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TPSILON 


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OF  THE 
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or  ILLINOIS 


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THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


i 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


By 

W.  H.  WILLIAMSON 

Author  of    The  Traitor's  Wifey"    A  Family  of 
Influence,"  '*  The  Prince's  Marriage/*  etc. 


DANA  ESTES  &  COMPANY 
^  BOSTON 

I  9 1  2 


All  Rights  Reserved. 


Pnnted  in  Great  Britain. 


%2^ 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 


Chapter  I  .       .       ....       .       .  7 

Chapter  II  .       .       .       ,       .       .       •  15 

Chapter  III   28 

Chapter  IV        .   39 

Chapter  V  .       .       .       .       .       .  .52 

Chapter  VI   68 

Chapter  VII   82 

^  Chapter  VIII     .   94 

^  Chapter  IX   105 

Chapter  X   117 

^  Chapter  XI   130 

v\  Chapter  XII   142 

Chapter  XIII  .       .       .       .       .       .  .151 

^   Chapter  XIV   165 

H  Chapter  XV  .......  175 


5 


6  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Chapter  XVI  191 

Chapter  XVII  202 

Chapter  XVIII  .215 

Chapter  XIX  230 

Chapter  XX      .       .       .       ,       .       .  .245 

Chapter  XXI     .      *  259 

Chapter  XXII    .       .       .       •       .       .      ^  271 

Chapter  XXIII  286 

Chapter  XXIV  298 

Chapter  XXV    *,       .       .       .        .        »       .  312 


CHAPTER  I 


**  A  stony  adversary,  an  inhuman  wretch. 
Incapable  of  pity,  void  and  empty 
From  every  drachm  of  mercy." 

— Merchant  of  Venice. 

THE  sun  was  sinking  in  a  blood-red  flame.  The 
tall  firs,  outlined  against  the  grey-blue  sky, 
showed  like  sentinels  of  a  Nature,  grim,  callous  and 
unmoved.  The  soughing  of  a  gentle  wind  just 
caught  the  ear,  and  the  rustling  of  the  leaves  on  a 
clump  of  birch  added  a  wailing  note,  but  otherwise 
all  was  unrespcnsive.  Hope  seemed  to  lie  neither  over 
the  trees,  towards  the  horizon,  or  with  the  flowing 
river.  Nature  was  vast  and  terrible,  and  many 
men  are  born  to  pain.  The  sun  sank  to  the  colour 
of  blood. 

A  youth  aged  nineteen  and  a  girl  fifteen,  with 
faces  white  and  fearful,  betraying  an  agony  of  mind 
too  cruel  for  their  years,  stood  together  behind  a 
sheltering  birch.  He  was  holding  her,  she  clutching 
him  in  despair  and  the  pain  that  moved  her.  An 
old  woman,  with  bent  head  and  shaking  body^  sit- 
ting on  a  stone,  held  the  skirt  of  the  girl  with  a  thin, 
bony  hand.  She  had  been  praying,  but  her  soul 
was  numbed  and  without  hope,  and  she  prayed  from 
habit  for  relief. 

7 


8  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


To  this  little  group  the  powers  of  evil  and  the 
evils  of  power  were  being  made  clear. 

Just  within  sight  of  them  a  band  of  peasants, 
with  timid,  sheep-like  attitude,  watched  one  o/  their 
number,  a  stout,  lusty  giant,  knout  the  steward. 
The  punishment  was  awful.  At  each  stroke  of  the 
hateful  lash  the  bloody  flesh  of  the  poor  steward 
quivered,  spurted  its  meed  of  blood,  and  then  shiv- 
ered and  welled  again.  The  groans  of  the  victim 
could  be  heard  distinctly  by  his  mother  and  two 
children  who  stood  near  the  birch  tree.  The  mother, 
when  the  knouting  had  begun,  looked  up  to  Heaven 
and  then  at  once  shut  her  eyes  and  hung  her  head. 
The  girl  buried  her  face  on  her  brother's  breast  and 
after  the  first  sob  and  the  almost  paralysing  pain 
of  it  made  no  more  noise,  but  just  squeezed  her 
brother  to  her  utmost  and  shut  her  lips  with  fierce- 
ness. The  youth  seemed  as  though  he  must  be  held 
back.  He  shook  like  a  tree  in  a  gale  when  he  heard 
the  first  swishes  and  the  cries  of  his  father.  He  shut 
his  eyes  and  twisted  his  face  horribly  as  if  the  cruel 
lash  had  cut  him  too.  He  had  comforted  his  grand- 
mother and  sister  as  well  as  he  could,  and  now, 
dulled  and  weary,  he  waited  for  the  end,  so  that  he 
might  succour  and  soothe,  if  any  chance  remained 
for  ministrations  of  that  kind. 

The  man  with  the  bloody  knout  stopped,  looked 
at  Count  Stolemkin,  his  master,  and  waited. 

"  That  will  do,"  said  the  Count,  and  he  gazed  for 
a  moment  at  the  broken  piece  of  humanity  lying 
on  the  ground  before  him. 

Then  he  turned  to  the  peasants,  his  serfs,  who 
watched  him  now  with  expectant,  dreading  eyes. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


9 


"  That's  the  way  I  treat  those  who  don't  do  their 
duty,"  he  shouted.      You  saw  :  Now  you  know. 

Let  me  catch  one  of  you  "     He  nodded  with 

the  simplest  of  gestures  and  the  easiest  of  meanings. 
*'  Get  off  to  your  kennels,"  he  added  with  an  im- 
perious wave  of  the  hand,  and  the  wretched  crea- 
tures slunk  with  one  accord  out  of  the  sight  of  their 
lord  and  master. 

Count  Stolemkin  approached  the  battered  steward. 

"  Lift  him  up,"  he  said  to  the  executioner,  who 
dropped  the  knout,  walked  to  the  helpless  man  with 
the  raw  back  lying  groaning  on  the  floor,  and  picked 
him  up.  Peter  Glebof,  the  humane  steward,  with 
the  humanity  knouted  out  of  him,  groaned  a  little 
more  as  he  was  moved.  He  did  not  understand 
what  this  lifting  up  meant,  for  he  really  understood 
very  little  at  this  moment.  His  grip  on  the  world 
was  a  very  feeble  thing  after  forty  strokes  with  the 
knout.  He  had  merely  enough  understanding  to 
disdain  life.    The  longer  groan  was  involuntary. 

It's  my  lord's  hand,"  said  the  man  who  held 
him. 

But  Peter  Glebof  cared  nothing  for  my  lord's 
hand.  He  was  in  the  hands  of  death.  Eternity 
was  beckoning  him  to  a  marvellous  rest,  and  my 
,  lord's  hand  was  held  to  him  to  kiss  !  He  was  also 
to  murmur,  "  I  thank  you,"  so  as  to  keep  count 
with  custom. 

"  My  lord's  hand  !  "  shouted  the  big  ruffian. 

My  lord  looked  at  the  inert  mass,  at  the  raw-cut, 
shivering  flesh,  and  realized  there  was  not  much  good 
left  in  the  man. 

"  Put  him  down  and  fetch  a  priest,"  he  said,  and 


10 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


he  turned  on  his  heel  towards  the  castle,  where  a 
luxurious  meal  was  awaiting  him. 

Melibof  said,  *'  Yes,  your  Excellency,"  and  he  put 
the  steward — such  as  he  was  now — on  the  ground 
and  made  off  towards  the  village  where  the  priest 
lived. 

The  youth  by  the  tree  looked  and  listened. 
"  They've  gone,"  he  said. 

The  girl,  scarcely  daring  to  open  her  eyes,  loosened 
very  gradually  her  firm  embrace. 

"  Oh  !  where  is  he  ?  "  she  asked  with  horror  and 
agony  in  the  voice  of  youth,  ageing  it  and  making 
it  preternaturally  striking. 

"  Come  on,"  said  Juri,  the  youth.  He  looked 
soul-tired,  but  something  in  his  attitude  was  arrest- 
ing, as  if  he  had  had  his  feelings  crushed  and  yet 
would  move  like  a  giant  stirred  by  some  terrific 
emotion.  He  touched  the  bending  woman. 
They've  gone,  grandmother,"  he  said. 

She  didn't  move. 

"  Grandmother,"  said  the  girl. 

"  Eh — eh  "    It  was  a  wail.    Hope  and  peace 

had  been  trampled  under  foot  and  her  voice  was  a 
Nunc  Dimittis, 

Juri  lifted  her  up  and  she  moaned,  and  then  the 
three  went  towards  where  the  poor  man,  with  the 
back  cut  to  ribbons,  was  lying. 

The  scene  was  poignant,  for  the  grief  was  heart- 
rending. The  poor  steward  seemed  to  realize  his 
own  were  about  him,  but  he  knew  he  was  nearer 
kin  to  death  than  to  anything  living  now.  And  his 
own  could  give  him  no  comfort,  for  they  were  un- 
nerved and  he  was  past  human  comfort.  The 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


II 


mother  who  had  borne  and  suckled  him  took  his 
head  in  her  lap,  and  his  two  children  took  his  hands, 
and  they  waited  like  dumb  creatures,  impotent 
before  a  great  disaster.  He  lay  still,  and  they  bent 
helpless  beside  him.  And  death  in  kind  fashion 
called  the  steward  from  his  sufferings. 

The  three  living  sat  still,  not  knowing  of  the 
release,  and  the  priest  and  the  executioner  found 
them  there. 

Melibof,  seeing  his  handiwork  noted  by  his  vic- 
tim's family,  slunk  away.  Youth  and  old  age, 
children  and  mothers,  can  be  very  reproachful  with- 
out uttering  a  word. 

"He  is  dead,"  said  the  priest. 

The  three  started.  They  moaned  and  wailed. 
The  mother  kissed  her  dead  son's  face.  Juri  took 
his  sister  in  his  arms  again. 

The  priest  said  a  prayer  and  then  went  away. 

In  that  day  the  story  was  common,  particularly 
in  Russia,  where  men's  passions  were  allowed  an 
outlet  wild,  savage  and  uncontrolled.  Peter  the 
Great  had  knouted  Russia,  and  the  serfs  and  depen- 
dents felt  the  crack  of  the  whip  whenever  the  anger 
of  a  barbarous  master  was  stirred.  Count  Stolem- 
kin  was  a  fierce  man,  with  a  keen  zest  for  the  strong 
in  life.  He  had  fought  at  Pultowa  under  Peter  the 
Great,  when  the  young  hero  of  Sweden  tasted  defeat 
and  Russia  rose  to  renown.  He  gambled  high  and 
drank  deep,  and  wanted  more  from  his  serfs  than 
they  could  give — and  live.  That  was  the  reason 
Peter  Glebof  died. 

Peter  Glebof  was  the  Count's  steward  in  one  por- 


12  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


tion  of  his  estate,  and  the  Count  being  pressed  for 
money  in  Moscow  sent  for  it  to  Nazeff  where  Glebof 
was  steward.  The  serfs  toiled  and  moiled  and  Gle- 
bof did  what  he  could — that  is,  what  a  man  with  a 
reasonable  heart  and  mind  could.  He  did  not  want 
to  send  the  peasants  to  find  food  on  their  hands  and 
knees  like  cattle,  and  it  is  possible  the  craftiest 
among  them  took  advantage  of  his  leniency.  That 
is  one  of  Nature's  tricks.  Spare  the  rod  and  spoil 
yourself.  The  weak  in  passion  or  mind  will  always 
go  to  excess  and  reap  the  harvest  of  wind  sowing. 

Count  Stolemkin  came  from  St.  Petersburg  in 
an  ugly  mood.  He  had  lost  heavily,  and  in  the 
grab  for  rewards  at  Court  he  met  men  as  capable  as 
himself,  and  so  did  not  secure  over  much — at  least, 
as  much  as  he  wanted,  though  his  friendship  with 
Ostermann  was  an  asset.  He  first  accused  the  steward 
of  peculation  and  then  of  idleness,  then  of  a  host 
of  misdeeds,  but  the  charge  was  of  small  importance 
— the  essential  was  the  example.  His  Excellency 
was  in  the  humour  to  stand  no  nonsense  in  the  way 
of  sentiment  or  the  pleadings  of  justice.  His  object 
was  increased  wealth,  and  if  he  made  an  example  of 
one  man  he  hoped  to  increase  the  fruits  of  many. 
The  idea  is  old,  outrageously  exaggerated  and 
essentially  human. 

So  Count  Stolemkin  stormed,  cursed,  and  struck. 
The  steward  defended  himself,  but  that  only  made 
matters  worse,  for  to  attempt  reasonableness  with 
a  ruffian  only  stirs  him  to  more  rage.  You  are  actu- 
ally taking  his  excuse  for  violence  from  him,  and  his 
emotion  goeth  not  out  but  by  blows  and  basting. 

Hence  this  tragedy. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


The  peasants  huddled  together  in  their  semi- 
underground  huts  :  but  beside  Peter  Glebof ,  as  he 
lay  at  peace  at  last  on  the  ground,  his  mother  and 
his  two  children  remained.  They  scarcely  knew 
what  to  do.  The  mother  was  passive  :  she  had 
known  brutality  all  her  life  and  very  little  of  the 
beautiful.  But  this  was  her  son  who  had  been  good 
to  her,  and  his  back — purple,  vermilion,  puce,  black, 
grey — was  horrible.  She  was  almost  content  he  was 
dead.  It  was  ended  now.  She  was  ready  to  die 
herself,  for  life  was  not  uniformly  pleasant. 

The  children  were  different. 

"  We'll  go  away,"  whispered  the  youth  to  his 
sister. 

She  looked  at  him  in  some  admiration  and  alarm, 
and  then  nodded  inquiringly  towards  the  grand- 
mother. 

"  Take  her  too,"  he  said.  He  seemed  full  of 
resolution's  capacity. 

The  girl,  Sofia,  looked  at  him  searchingly.  She 
felt  the  iron  in  his  soul  and  will  and  liked  both. 
She  herself  felt  capable  of  great  deeds. 

"  Where  shall  we  go  ?  "  she  asked. 

He  nodded  towards  the  forests. 

"  Easily  hide  there — we  shall  be  better  oft  than 
here.    And  " 

"  Yes  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  we  will  come  back  some  day." 

She  looked  at  him  admiringly  and  understood 
quickly.  She  grasped  his  hand,  and  he  knew  then 
she  was  at  one  with  him. 

"  Some  day,"  he  muttered. 

"  Yes — don't  you  mind  how  they  killed  Jacob  " 


14  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Sh  !  "  he  said  with  swift  caution  and  looked 
round.  He  nodded  to  her  for  understanding.  She 
sighed  as  if  reheved. 

Peter  Glebof 's  mother  followed  her  son  into  eternal 
rest  the  day  the  dead  steward  was  buried.  She 
died  willingly,  refusing  to  clutch  at  life  any  longer. 

A  week  later  Juri  and  Sofia  Glebof  were  missing 
from  Nazeff.  There  was  a  hue  and  cry  and  a 
search,  but  these  were  superfluities.  The  runaways 
were  not  caught.  Moreover,  Nazeff  had  not  seen 
the  last  of  them. 


CHAPTER  II 


"  Remember,  it's  as  easy  to  marry  a  rich  woman  as  a  poor 
woman.'* 

— Pendennis: 

FOUR  years  have  passed — a  little  more,  to  be 
precise — but  we  feel  sure  the  reader  is  not 
to  a  month  or  so. 

Count  Stolemkin  is  now  in  Petersburg,  and  still 
desirous  of  increasing  his  supply  of  roubles.  This 
was  a  habit  of  his,  engendered  probably  by  other 
habits.  He  was  in  the  house  he  had  been  compelled 
%y  his  illustrious  master,  Peter  (now  dead),  to  build 
in  this  swamp.  He  preferred  Moscow,  but  Peters- 
burg was  really  a  wonderful  city.  He  sat  this  morn- 
ing smoking,  drinking  and  pondering.  He  was  not 
a  philosopher,  so  his  pondering  must  not  be  taken 
too  seriously.  Roubles — that  was  the  principal 
theme,  mingled  with  cards,  beer,  Hungarian  wine, 
brandy,  women,  the  opportunities  for  ease  and 
satisfaction,  some  stories  concerning  the  Princess 
Elizabeth  Petrovna,  also  some  cunning  affairs  of 
the  Count  Ostermann's,  and  most  perhaps,  what  he 
should  do  with  his  son  Vasili.  Not  much  in  the 
way  of  a  gentle  or  genial  philosophy.  He  was  a 
fairly  big  man,  with  cold,  staring  blue  eyes,  a  squat 

^>6 


i6  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


nose,  thick  lips,  and  a  bull  neck.  A  man  to  knout 
anybody  in  a  passion  and  drink  with  the  best. 

He  had  fought  well  under  Peter  and  been  well 
rewarded.  He  had  quite  a  scent  for  rewards.  But 
with  the  sheathing  of  his  sword  and  the  card-table 
occupying  him  more  than  the  camp,  he  ceased  to 
increase  his  possessions,  while  his  capacity  for  dis- 
tribution remained  enormous.  He  licked  life  gust- 
ily nevertheless,  and  smacked  his  lips  over  it. 

He  was  in  a  room  of  barbaric  splendour  and  per- 
plexing taste.  Persian  rugs  of  mellow  richness  lay 
on  a  boarded  floor  of  questionable  cleanliness. 
Chairs  of  French  design  and  manufacture  surrounded 
a  plain,  uncovered  deal  table  bought  at  Nijni  Nov- 
gorod. The  incongruous  tickled  a  man  of  parts  the 
moment  he  entered  the  room.  Enter  some  one  in 
keeping — Baron  Demidoff,  as  neat  a  man  as  you 
would  find  on  the  Neva  for  procuring  worry  for  his 
friends  when  he  could  do  it  craftily.  He  looked  at 
the  jewelled  ikon  in  the  corner  and  bowed  magnifi- 
cently. 

Mier  efdom  Zjeiewoesonon,"  he  said.  "  Peace 
be  in  this  house  and  those  who  dwell  in  it." 

Peace  !    Did  Demidoff  see  the  humour  of  it  ? 

Then  he  nodded  to  Count  Stolemkin  and  drank 
brandy  with  him — then  beer. 

"  Have  you  heard,  Anton  Gregorovitch,*'  said 
Baron  Demidoff,  addressing  his  friend,  "  that  Puroff 
is  dead  ? " 

"  Puroff  ?  Peace  to  him.  I  won  two  thousand 
roubles  from  him  the  last  time  I  played  with  him. 
Not  a  bad  loser,  though." 

"  And  he  did  not  lose  on  the  whole,  eh  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  17 


"  No.  He  got  his  share,  too,  of  pickings.  Tsar 
Peter  was  very  good  to  him." 

"  Estates  in  Livonia,  Revel,  Ukraine  and  Moscow  ; 
jewels  to  set  a  Court  staring ;  enough  wood  and 
stone  to  build  a  new  Petersburg ;  fishing  rights 
on  the  Volga  worth  a  ransom,  and  thirty  thousand 
serfs." 

Count  Stolemkin's  blue  eyes  twinkled  with  the 
pleasant  ideas  that  suggestions  of  wealth  stirred  up 
in  his  mind. 

"  He  grabbed,"  he  said  laconically. 
Heartily  and  heavily." 

"  And  now  he  is  dead — what  will  he  grab  now, 
eh,  Paul  Nicholavitch  ?  " 

Paul  Nicholavitch  Demidoff  pulled  a  face.  Both 
men  were  firm  believers  in  this  life  and  the  next — 
but  this  one  more  particularly. 

"  He  has  left  one  child,  I  believe,"  said  Demidoff . 

"  Ha  !   A  boy  ?  " 

"  No— daughter." 

"  Daughter !  What  will  she  do  with  those 
estates  ?  "  There  was  contempt  and  avarice  in  the 
tone.    A  girl  with  those  

Baron  Demidoff  paused,  for  his  mischievous  soul 
was  chuckling  and  he  wished  to  let  his  next  remark 
stand  out  with  excellent  clearness. 

Marry  some  one,"  he  said,  "  who  will  relieve 
her  of  her  burdens." 

His  eyes  had  a  droop  that  was  hintful  of  possi- 
bilities. 

Coimt  Stolemkin,  though  not  particularly  bright, 
was  not  dull. 

Marry !    By  the  saints  !    She  will  be  a  good 

B 


i8  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


match/'  He  stared  at  his  friend.  "  His  only  child 
did  you  say,  Paul  Nicholavitch  ?  " 

"  Who  inherits  all/'  and  Baron  Paul  Nicholavitch 
Demidoff  nodded  his  head  affirmatively  and  em- 
phasizingly. 

Stolemkin  was  swallowing  the  bait. 

"  How  old  is  she  ?     he  asked  with  interest. 

"  The  right  age  to  marry,  my  friend.'' 

"  By  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul !  And  Vasili,  my 
son,  is  also  of  the  right  age  to  marry  " 

Swallowed  ! 

"  Anton  Gregorovitch,  you  see  far  and  well. 
Vasili  Antonovitch  married  to  the  heiress  of  our 
deceased  friend  Puroff  would  have  wealth  to  finance 
a  Charles  XH." 

Count  Stolemkin  called  for  champagne  for  his 
friend. 

My  son  Vasili  is  no  King  of  Sweden,"  said 
the  candid  parent,  "  but  he  may  be  more  fortu- 
nate." 

"  That  is  not  difficult,  considering  you  already 
see  him  in  possession  of  the  Puroff  estates,"  said 
Demidoff,  who  wished  to  take  his  friend  to  a  high 
mountain,  as  it  were,  show  him  great  and  rich  treas- 
ures and  tempt  him  with  the  possibilities.  It  was 
not  difficult  to  tempt  Count  Stolemkin. 

"  I  suppose  the  Duke  of  Courland  would  help 
me/'  he  said,  in  rather  a  ruminating  kind  of  way, 
as  if  he  were  not  quite  sure  that  Biren  would. 

"  Why  not  ?  " 

"  Exactly ;  why  not  ?  There  will  be  no  harm 
in  asking." 

"  Ncme   whatever.    \^Tio   does   not   ask  goes 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


19 


hungry."  He  was  also  thinking  :  Not  all  who  ask 
get  what  they  want. 

Count  Stolemkin  decided  that  a  marriage  between 
his  son  Vasili  and  the  daughter  (sole  heiress  !)  of  the 
late  Count  Puroff  would  be  a  union  blessed  by 
Providence.    The  idea  was  most  cherishable. 

The  Count,  when  his  friend  had  gone,  called  for  his 
son  Vasili  and  expounded  the  proposal. 

"  It  is  time  you  wed,  my  son,"  said  the  calculat- 
ing father,  "  and  you  will  find  no  better  match  in 
Russia." 

"  I  may  not  like  the — the  Countess." 

"  Like  her — pouf  !  Estates  in  Livonia,  Ukraine, 
Revel  and  the  Lord  knows  where,  more  jewels  than 
you  will  find  in  Moscow  and  Persia,  wood  and  stone 
enough  to  build  ten  cities  like  this,  and  enough  fish 
to  feed  the  whole  world  if  there  happened  to  be  a 
famine.    Do  you  like  that  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  over  fond  of  fish,  my  father,  and  what 
should  I  do  with  all  that  wood  ?  " 

"  My  son,  fish  and  wood  can  be  exchanged  for 
roubles,  and  with  roubles  you  can  do  pretty  well 
what  you  want,  where  you  want,  when  you  want, 
and  also  how.  Don't  sniff  at  fish  and  wood.  It  is 
time  you  married  and  started  seeing  the  advantage 
of  exchanging  fish  and  wood  for  roubles." 

"  I  am  not  anxious,  my  father,"  said  the  pale, 
anaemic  Vasili,  whose  heart  was  fuller  of  decent 
intentions  than  his  legs  and  arms  of  muscles — com- 
paratively, of  course. 

The  big  father  scowled. 

"  By  the  Saints  !  What  have  I  done  to  offend 
High  Heaven  that  I  should  be  cursed  with  a  mew- 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


ling,  puling  son  who  daren't  go  out  if  it's  cold,  and 
can't  stir  if  it's  warm,  and  seems  to  be  afraid  of  a  bit 
of  a  wench.  Not  anxious/'  He  mimicked  his  frail 
offspring's  voice. 

Count  Vasili  Antonovitch  Stolemkin  was  a  pale, 
clean-shaven  young  man,  just  twenty  years  of  age, 
with  thoughtful  eyes  (brown  and  timid),  a  thin- 
nostrilled  nose,  thin  lips,  a  weak  chin  with  a  dimple, 
spindle  legs  and  nice  hands.  A  mother's  son, 
every  inch  of  him,  and  no  more  a  chip  of  the  old 
block  than  the  mouse  was  like  the  mountain. 

He  looked  fearsomely  at  his  father. 

"  A  bright  store  of  honour  you  are  going  to  bring 
on  your  family,  I  can  see,"  said  the  Count  Stolem- 
kin with  rich  irony.  "  Cover  it  with  glory  !  "  He 
shook  his  head  as  if  he  would  like  to  take  his  son  by 
the  neck  (perhaps  in  his  teeth)  and  shake  him. 

"  I  will  do  as  you  wish,  my  father." 

"  By  all  the  demons  of  Hell !  I  know  you  will. 
I  will  make  you  climb  Jacob's  ladder,  go  down  with 
Jonah  into  the  belly  of  the  whale,  or  eat  fish  and 
dance  on  wood  till  you  are  sick,  if  I  wish.  By  the 
blessed  ikon  !  I  pray  you  may  have  a  wife  who  will 
help  you  to  beget  a  son  as  unlike  you  as  you  are 
unlike  me.  Here." 

He  poured  him  out  a  huge  tumbler  of  brandy. 

"  Drink  that." 

Vasili  shuddered  and  looked  pleadingly  at  his 
father. 

"  Drink  it !  "  shouted  the  old  campaigner. 
"  All  ?  "  came  the  timid  voice. 
"  I'll  fill  a  '  great  eagle '  for  you  if  you  don't 
swallow  it  at  once." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  21 


Vasili  prayed  (silently)  and  drank.  Then  he 
collapsed.  The  old  man  sneered  and  went  out  to 
make  arrangements  for  having  an  audience  of  Ernest 
Biren,  Duke  of  Courland,  Lord  Chamberlain  of  Russia, 
Prince  of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire,  lover  of  the 
Empress — the  son  of  a  game-keeper.  The  moral : 
It  is  easier  to  rise  by  women  than  by  talent. 

Count  Stolemkin  managed  to  arrange  for  an 
audience  that  day  week,  after  informing  the  Lord 
Chamberlain's  Secretary  of  his  business. 

That  day  week  he  called,  dressed  in  a  suit  of  deli- 
cate rose  colour,  to  see  the  all-powerful  German,  who 
practically  ruled  Russia.  His  lackeys  bawled  a 
way  for  him,  and  then  he  waited  the  pleasure  of  the 
Lord  Chamberlain,  who  was  detained  by  Her  Majesty 
the  Empress  to  watch  a  performance  by  the  Prin- 
cesses Nastasia  and  Anisia.  It  was  not  a  billed 
affair  though,  considering  the  status  of  the  actresses 
and  the  nature  of  the  performance,  there  is  no  doubt 
but  that  the  draw  would  have  been  colossal.  The 
originator  and  stage  manager  was  the  Empress 
Anna.  She  was  making  the  princesses  (whose 
names  have  already  appeared  on  the  programme) 
gulp  balls  of  pastry,  then  crouch  on  pails  made 
of  bark  and  cackle  as  though  they  had  laid 
eggs  ! 

So  while  this  went  on  and  Lakosta,  a  Portuguese 
Jew,  one  of  the  Empress's  fools,  amused  the  Court, 
Count  Stolemkin  awaited  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord 
Chamberlain. 

It  was  a  varied  crowd  that  waited,  some  with 
appointments  and  some  without,  some  with  hope, 
some  with  fear,  and  most  with  supplication.  Prob- 


22  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


ably  no  court  in  Europe  saw  such  changes  of  fortune 
as  the  Russian  in  the  eighteenth  century.  No 
wonder  the  antechambers  of  the  powerful  were 
crammed  with  those  who  waited  ! 

Count  Stolemkin  saw  amongst  the  crowd  two  of 
his  friends,  Baron  Frolof  and  Count  Bulavin.  They 
foregathered  and  gossiped.  Baron  Frolof  was  an 
irresponsible-tongued  creature  and  babbled  of 
everything.  He  had  about  as  much  discretion  as 
a  parrot,  and  nobody  who  wished  a  thing  to  be 
hidden  told  it  to  him.  After  he  had  mentioned  all 
the  spicy  gossip  he  knew  concerning  the  Empress, 
Biren  and  others,  he  blurted  out :  ''I  wonder  if 
you  will  guess  what  I  am  here  for  ?  " 

Count  Bulavin  said — 

"  You  want  to  be  made  chancellor  ?  " 

Frolof  looked  round  in  fear. 

"  If  Count  Ostermann  heard  you  I  should  be 
broken  on  the  wheel !  "  Then  he  grinned,  No." 
He  turned  to  Stolemkin.  "  Well,  Anton  Gregoro- 
vitch  ?  " 

Count  Stolemkin  looked  mischievous. 
"  To  ask  Biren  to  give  you  a  chance  with  the 
Empress." 

Baron  Frolof  looked  fit  for  bleeding.    He  gasped. 

"  Oh  !  my  friends  !  You  would  ruin  me.  Me — 
and  the  blessed  Empress  " 

Bulavin  chuckled.  Stolemkin  was  quite  pleased 
at  the  effect  of  his  speech  on  his  friend. 

Frolof  shook  his  head  at  them. 

"  Rogues  !  "  he  said.  Mind  you  don't  get  your 
tongues  cut  out !  You  are  poor  guessers.  I  want 
to  marry  my  son." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


23 


"  Ah  !  "  said  Bulavin  in  a  quite  colourless  voice. 
Stolemkin  merely  nodded. 

"  Yes."  Frolof  was  exuberant.  "  To  Puroff's 
daughter." 

"What!" 

Frolof  had  a  shock,  for  this  exclamation  came  from 
the  two  and  was  not  at  all  colourless.  It  would  be 
difficult  to  name  the  colour — it  was  almost  rainbow- 
ish,  for  there  were  glowering,  cloudy  foreheads  and 
threatening  eyes  accompanying  it,  and  heat  seemed 
sure. 

Stolemkin  and  Bulavin  looked  at  each  other. 
They  were  more  wary  and  not  given  to  babbling 
freely,  but  their  simultaneous  ejaculation  and  their 
anxious  surprise  was  a  distinct  note  of  betrayal. 
Frolof  did  not  notice  this,  but  they  understood. 

Count  Bulavin  looked  at  Frolof. 

"  By  St.  Nicholas  and  the  Holy  Synod  !  What 
do  you  want  to  marry  your  son  to  Puroff's  daughter 
for  ?  " 

Baron  Frolof,  who  was  dressed  in  a  violet  coat 
and  purple  breeches,  looked  surprised  and  wondered 
if  he  ought  not  to  be  pained  at  such  a  remark. 

Before  he  could  answer,  Stolemkin,  with  a  very 
serious  look  on  his  countenance,  touched  Bulavin 
on  his  green  breeches  and  said — 

"  And  what  have  you  come  for,  Nicholas  Dimi- 
trivitch — the  same  errand,  by  all  the  saints  in  the 
calendar,  eh  ?  " 

And  you,  Anton  Gregorovitch — do  you  want 
to  marry  your  stalwart  son  to  this  offspring  of  the 
dead  Puroff  ?  " 

Stolemkin  and  Bulavin  did  not  look  at  each  other 


24  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


with  pleasantness  in  their  fa(;^es.  Frolof  began  to 
understand. 

''You  too — and  you?    Surely  we  have  not 

all  come  ?  " 

"  We  have." 

They  resorted  to  silence.  Frolof  would  have 
"  Well,  well-d  "  and  "  Tut-tutted,"  but  the  other 
two  looked  so  grim  and  glum  and  anxious  for 
ferocity  that  he  forbore. 

When  the  first  blast  of  passion  had  expended  it- 
self, the  three  men  looked  at  each  other  calmly  and 
endeavoured  to  face  the  situation  in  the  same  spirit. 

"  I  Avonder  how  many  more  are  coming  ?  "  said 
Bulavin  sourly. 

"  Every  one  with  a  spare  son,  I  suppose,"  said 
Stolemkin,  feeling  very  ugly  in  spirit. 

"  It  is  preposterous,"  murmured  Frolof. 

"  What  is  preposterous  ?  "  snarled  Stolemkin, 
being  in  the  humour  for  nasty  business. 

"  Why,  that  three  of  us  wish  to  find  the  daughter 
of  Puroff  a  husband.  The  little  lady  can't  have 
three  husbands." 

"  That  is  really  brilliant,  Juri  Alexievitch,"  said 
Bulavin  sneeringly.  "  Can't  have  three  husbands, 
eh  ? — then  suppose  you  retire  and  let  your  estimable 
son  find  some  lady  whom  he  can  possess  solely  and 
exclusively." 

But  Frolof,  though  simple  of  tongue,  had  as  keen 
an  eye  for  the  main  chance  as  the  others,  and  he 
could  hold  his  own  and  reach  forward  for  more,  with 
almost  equal  ability  to  theirs. 

"  While  you,  Nicholas  Dimitrivitch,  let  your  son 
marry  a  wife  he  shares  with  another  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


25 


*'  It's  a  fool's  predicament,"  blurted  out  Stolem- 
kin. 

They  agreed  and  ruminated  once  more. 
And  the  Lord  Chamberlain  has  evidently  given 
us  an  appointment  at  the  same  hour,"  said  Bulavin 
suspiciously  after  the  pause. 

"  To  laugh  at  us,  eh  ?  " 

"  While  he  hands  the  maid  over  to  a  German 
maybe." 

Sh  !  " 

Men  in  temper  will  occasionally  say  such  indis- 
creet things  !    But  temper  is  indiscretion. 

They  waited  sulky,  brooding  and  despondent. 
They  gave  up  hope  and  only  considered  how  to 
escape  from  the  Lord  Chamberlain's  presence  with 
the  least  loss  of  dignity. 

They  were,  however,  not  quite  so  sure  of  their 
dignity  when  the  interview  was  over.  They  came 
from  the  Lord  Chancellor  with  feelings  odd  and  rest- 
less. They  did  not  speak  in  joyful  accents  or  exude 
a  jovial  atmosphere.  In  fact,  they  looked  deeply 
and  widely  perturbed.  As  friends  they  seemed  to 
lack  friendship  :  each  revolved  too  much  on  his  own 
axis,  as  it  were,  and  seemed  to  regard  his  companions 
not  so  much  as  neighbourly  and  friendly  suns  as 
hostile  comets  with  wicked  and  dangerous  orbits. 

The  truth  is,  the  Lord  Chamberlain  had  displayed 
an  astuteness  quite  natural  to  him  and  in  keeping 
with  the  general  tenor  of  his  ways.  He  had  not 
refused  to  listen  to  the  three  noblemen  or  appeared 
harsh,  cold,  or  of  a  bargaining  character.  They  had 
supposed  there  might  be  necessity  for  pleading,  for 
delicate  hinting,  for  judicious  dodging,  et  cetera;  but 


26 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


the  great  Biren  deluded  them  wholesomely.  He 
was  wonderfully  gracious  and  smiling,  and  got  each 
gentleman  in  turn  to  state  the  nature  of  his  errand 
and  the  burden  of  his  petition.  He  listened  to 
all  with  an  amiable  air. 

Then  he  granted  their  several  requests.  The 
most  benignant  could  scarcely  have  done  more. 
He  could  refuse  none  of  them,  he  said, with  a  chuckle 
in  his  capacious  sleeve.  They  were,  he  knew,  friends 
devoted  to  him  and  to  Her  Majesty  the  Empress, 
and  their  requests  had  found  favour  in  her  sight  and 
would  be  granted. 

To  Count  Stolemkin  the  Empress  was  pleased  to 
say  she  approved  of  his  plan  to  marry  his  son  with 
the  daughter  of  the  late  Count  Puroff. 

To  Count  Bulavin  the  Empress  was  pleased  to 
say  she  approved  of  his  plan  to  marry  his  son  with 
the  daughter  of  the  late  Count  Puroff. 

To  Baron  Frolof  the  Empress  was  pleased  to  say 
she  approved  of  his  plan  to  marry  his  son  with  the 
daughter  of  the  late  Count  Puroff. 

No  wonder  Biren  had  said  "  only  three."  Had 
there  been  three  hundred  and  three  he  could  have 
reeled  it  off.  "  To  X,  Y,  Z,  the  Empress  was  pleased, 
etc.,  etc."  And  all  would  have  been  so  simple  if 
only  the  late  Count  Puroff  had  had  the  perspicacity 
to  leave  behind  him  a  sufficient  number  of  daughters. 
Men  were  thoughtless  ever  ! 

The  three  vicarious  suitors  had  to  appear  to  relish 
the  joke,  for  the  Lord  Chamberlain  was  not  one  to 
suffer  dullness  gladly.  They  felt  there  was,  however, 
something  wanting,  and  the  gap  was  filled  just  before 
they  were  shown  out. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  27 


"  The  lady  cannot  be  the  husband  of  three  men," 
said  the  Lord  Chamberlain.  "  It  would  not  be 
seemly."  (The  three  auditors  tried  to  smile.)  "  Her 
Majesty  did  not  wish  to  choose  between  the  claims 
of  three  of  such  loyal  subjects,  so  she  allows  the 
Countess  Puroff  to  be  claimed  in  marriage  by  the  son 
of  whichever  of  you  first  secures  her  person.  A 
suitable  message  will  be  given  to  each  of  you  to  pre- 
sent to  the  Countess  as  your  authority.  She  resides, 
I  believe,  at  present,  in  the  Ukraine." 

Then  the  Lord  Chamberlain  smiled. 

The  three  friends  retired,  one  might  write  it 
without  being  accused  of  over  picturesqueness,  with 
faces  the  colours  of  their  respective  breeches — green, 
purple  and  pink. 

They  separated  without  even  taking  the  trouble 
to  say  good-bye  to  each  other. 

Biren  doubtless  enjoyed  the  jest,  for  he  liked  to 
throw  the  apple  of  discord  amongst  the  Russian 
nobles. 


CHAPTER  III 


"  A  man  should  seek  for  himself  three  things — fortune, 
fame  and  a  wife.'* 

— Anon. 

COUNT  STOLEMKIN  was  not  the  man,  while 
great  prizes  were  at  stake,  to  let  others  put 
out  their  hands  for  them  and  make  no  effort  him- 
self to  snatch  the  spoil.  As  a  rule,  his  endeavours 
in  directions  of  that  kind  were  vigorous  and  never 
to  be  lightly  treated. 

Bulavin  and  Frolof  in  the  race — for  race  of  a  kind 
it  was. 

The  Count  cursed  abundantly.  And  yet  there 
was  something  in  the  affair  that  attracted  him.  It 
was  in  the  nature  of  a  gamble — a  two  to  one  chance — 
and  all  Russians  are  garnblers.  And  one  thing  of 
encouraging  import  was  the  character  of  the  com- 
petitors. Count  Stolemkin  considered  he  could  give 
Bulavin  and  Frolof  a  day's  march  in  almost  any 
decent  journey  and  beat  them.  Confidence  in  one's 
self  is  part  of  the  joy  of  life. 

Stolemkin  saw  the  need  for  careful  planning  and 
prudent  arrangement.  Some  one  must  go,  armed 
with  the  message  of  authority  obtained  from  the 
Lord  Chamberlain,  to  bring  the  Countess  Puroff  to 
her  husband  elect. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  29 


The  Count  had  no  intention  of  being  himself  the 
bearer  of  the  message.  Was  he  to  give  up  the  pleas- 
ures of  the  capital  to  make  a  journey  over  hideous 
roads,  accompanied  by  savage  discomforts,  into  the 
heart  of  Russia  ?  Not  if  it  could  be  avoided.  And 
Vasili,  his  son,  could  not  be  the  messenger.  There 
would  not  only  be  bears  and  wolves  in  the  path,  but 
brigands  and — the  two  other  suitors.  Vasili  Antono- 
vitch  would  not  get  a  wife  if  she  had  to  be  fought  for. 

At  the  thought  of  these  things  Count  Stolemkin 
wondered  if  the  other  two  aspirants  could  not  be 
stopped — dropped  into  the  Neva,  arrested  for  some 
cause  or  other  and  detained  indefinitely  in  the  fortress 
dedicated  to  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  and  to  the 
hospitality  of  obnoxious  persons. 

The  Count  was  clearly  not  a  pragmatic  stickler  for 
formalities  when  he  had  opponents  in  a  great  adven- 
ture. But  he  saw  the  futility  of  these  wild  ideas, 
for  the  Lord  Chamberlain  meant  to  have  his  little 
joke,  so  there  must  be  a  race.  Stolemkin  cudgelled 
his  brains  for  a  messenger.  That  was  his  longing — 
a  messenger  

He  must  be  hardy,  enterprising,  capable  of  fatigue, 
of  good  address  with  the  tongue  and  the  sword, 
trustworthy,  and  likely  to  win. 

There  was  all  Petersburg  to  choose  from,  but  there 
was  not  ease  in  the  choice  as  one  may  imagine.  No- 
body in  the  Count's  entourage  suggested  himself  as 
a  likely  person.  There  was  Minoff  his  nephew,  but 
— the  Count  shook  his  head,  as  if  he  thought  Minoff 
would  probably  fail  him  at  the  critical  moment. 

He  ran  through  a  long  catalogue  of  names,  but 
A  wouldn't  do,  and  B  wouldn't  do,  and  when  the 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


world — Stolemkin's  world — appeared  at  its  feeblest 
the  outline  of  a  man  appeared  on  the  horizon.  Count 
Stolemkin  held  himself  taut  so  as  to  be  certain  before 
he  moved,  and  then  he  stood  up  with  a  look  of 
intense  satisfaction.  His  blue  eyes,  with  much 
of  the  lustre  sped,  looked  eager,  and  he  pursed  his 
thick  lips  together  with  a  sense  of  relish.  The  vista 
seemed  pleasant :  the  prospect  held  promise  of 
success. 

Count  Stolemkin  had  in  his  mind  one  Louis 
William  Gordon,  a  soldier  of  fortune,  a  foreigner 
truly,  but  since  Peter  had  brought  every  distin- 
guished (and  undistinguished)  foreigner  he  could 
into  Russia,  the  Swedes  and  Dutch  and  French  and 
German  and  English  and  Scotch  did  not  find  them- 
selves without  compatriots  in  the  domain  of  the 
Tsars.  And  Louis  William  Gordon  was  not  the  only 
Scotchman  there.  Count  Stolemkin  scarcely  paid 
attention  to  the  man's  nationality.  He  was  the 
man  for  the  task.  There  must  be  craft  and  speed 
to  engage  him,  and  no  time  lost  in  thrusting  him 
forth  on  the  momentous  errand. 

Count  Stolemkin  gave  a  passing  thought  to  his 
friends,  Bulavin  and  Frolof ,  and  was  almost  inclined 
to  go  and  tell  them  they  would  waste  money  and 
labour  and  blast  many  hopes  if  they  seriously  thought 
of  securing  the  person  of  the  Countess  Puroff.  Ho  ! 
Ho  !  Ho  !  The  chuckle  of  immense  satisfaction 
(pierced  through  and  through  with  the  jeering  note 
of  the  shrieking  victor)  was  Stolemkin's  signal  that 
the  prize  was  arranged  for. 

Louis  William  Gordon  was  the  son  of  a  Scotch 
adventurer  and  a  French  countess  who  became 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


31 


captivated  with  the  tough  soldier  and  threw  in  her 
lot  with  his,  greatly  to  her  friends'  disgust  and  her 
own  pecuniary  loss. 

Louis  William's  father  had  fought  for  Peter  the 
Great  at  Pultowa  when  his  little  son  was  barely  two 
years  old,  and  died  soon  afterwards  before  reaping 
the  rewards  he  had  long  toiled  for.  The  Countess 
made  friends  with  her  offended  relatives  and  gave 
her  son  the  best  education  she  could.  He  spoke 
English,  Russian,  French,  and  German,  and  was  a 
dashing  captain  of  horse  at  eighteen.  But  the 
occasional  scrambles  of  war  did  not  give  him  all  the 
chances  he  sought,  and  only  the  favour  of  the  Prin- 
cess Elizabeth,  for  whom  he  had  executed  a  delicate 
mission  to  the  Marshal  de  Saxe  (before  that  gifted 
adventurer  became  a  marshal),  kept  him  in  Russia. 
Stolemkin  knew  of  Gordon's  ability  and  his  desire 
for  the  chance  of  distinguished  employment,  also 
of  his  impecuniosity.  So,  intent  on  making  arrange- 
ments for  the  capture  of  the  Countess  Puroff,  the 
Count  strode  out  into  the  atrocious  streets  of  St. 
Petersburg  to  search  for  Louis  William  Gordon. 

The  task  was  not  so  difficult  or  arduous  as  it 
might  be  imagined.  Certainly  the  Russian  capital 
was  not  clean  either  in  street  or  savour,  and  the 
frequent  calls  (Mr.  Gordon  was  no  respecter  of 
places,  so  long  as  he  got  the  company  and  the  pleas- 
ure he  desired)  made  the  quest  long.  But  Count 
Stolemkin  made  light  of  difficulties  when  the  prize 
that  beckoned  was  so  rich  and  rare.  He  went  from 
place  to  place  with  the  patience  of  the  successful 
searcher.  He  accosted  all  English  and  Scotch  that 
he  knew,  in  the  hope  they  would  be  able  to  tell  him 


32  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


of  the  whereabouts  of  their  compatriot.  After  all, 
he  had  to  be  found,  or  some  one  else  must  be  chosen 
to  take  his  place,  and  there  was  always  a  chance  that 
Bulavin  or  Frolof  by  a  freak  of  Fate  might  find  a 
man  of  Gordon's  equal  and  dispatch  him  without 
loss  of  time. 

Count  Stolemkin  was  worried  with  thoughts  like 
these  and  felt  tempted  to  curse.  He  wandered 
towards  the  Neva,  for  these  odd  foreigners  had  a 
liking  for  the  salt  water  and  the  ships,  and  passed  a 
workyard  established  by  Peter  the  Great  where  ships 
were  being  most  admirably  put  together,  but  of  new 
and  unseasoned  timber — the  egregious  deathtraps 
of  a  misguided  zeal !  The  roads  were  wretched. 
Tree  trunks  flung  down  provided  a  hard  substance, 
and  then  one  exhausted  its  virtue. 

In  an  inn  that  was  frequently  patronized  by 
travellers  from  a  distance.  Count  Stolemkin  at  last 
found  the  object  of  his  search. 

Louis  William  Gordon  was  speaking  in  the  tongue 
of  his  father  with  a  braw  Scotch  skipper  from  Edin- 
burgh. At  the  freshened  sight  of  him  Count 
Stolemkin  felt  satisfied.  If  this  man  could  not 
bring  the  Countess  Puroff  to  be  wedded  to  his  son 
Vasili,  who  could  ? 

Gordon's  bright  complexion  was  a  suggestion  to 
hope.  His  appearance  was  very  comforting.  He 
was  about  six  feet  two  inches  in  height  and  most 
admirably  proportioned,  with  a  look  of  ease  and 
magnificence.  Strength  seemed  his  portion ;  and 
there  was  pleasantness  in  his  face,  from  the  lips 
ready  for  a  joke  (or  kisses)  to  the  light  of  adventure 
in  the  moderate-sized — but  very  bright — brown 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  33 


eyes.  He  was  clean-shaven  save  for  a  moustache, 
and  his  hair  was  a  curly  brown. 

The  Count  greeted  him  joyously :  the  occasion 
was  worth  it.  And  Louis  William,  as  became  the 
offspring  of  a  Scotch  father  and  French  mother, 
noted  the  effusiveness  at  once,  and  almost  uttered 
a  prayer  for  the  great  adventure. 

In  less  than  five  minutes  he  got  an  outline  of 
what  was  required  and  his  bright  eyes  twinkled.  He 
saw  himself  in  wild  Russia  bringing  the  lady  to 
the  capital,  and  the  reward  ? 

"  It  would  be  handsome,"  said  the  Count. 

"  Um — um,''  said  Gordon  with  an  astute  gleam 
in  his  eye,  speaking  the  language  of  definite- 
ness. 

The  Count  was  not  intent  on  bargaining,  for  a 
few  roubles  more  or  less  were  of  no  consequence  in 
comparison  with  the  great  prize.  And  Gordon,  for 
all  his  seeming  desire  to  fix  the  reward,  was  mostly 
keen  on  knowing  that  he  would  not  be  stinted  on  the 
journey. 

"  Bring  the  little  lady  to  St.  Petersburg,"  he  said. 
"  What  did  you  say  her  name  was  ?  " 
"  Countess  Puroff." 

"  I  knew  her  father  :  he  fought  under  mine  at 
Pultowa.  And  it  is  his  daughter  ?  "  Gordon  looked 
at  Stolemkin  with  an  inviting  curiosity,  for  the 
Count's  outline  had  been  merely  an  outline.  It  was 
desirable  to  bring  the  Countess  Puroff  to  the  capital, 
and  it  was  most  expedient  that  she  be  brought 
speedily,  and,  above  all,  that  she  be  brought  by 
Louis  William  Gordon  to  Count  Stolemkin. 

Clearly,  the  average  man's  curiosity  might  have 

C 


34  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


been  awakened.  Gordon  felt  somehow  that  he 
was  entitled  to  a  few  more  details,  for  the  hint  that 
expense  was  not  to  be  considered  but  haste  was, 
gave  food  for  speculation. 

But  Stolemkin  had  moved  in  courts  as  well  as  in 
camps  and  knew  the  value  of  the  unspoken  word. 
He  never  told  all  when  half  would  serve.  Roubles, 
on  occasions,  were  much  cheaper  than  words.  A 
still  tongue  made  a  peaceful  sleep,  while  the  babbler 
dwelt  ever  beside  the  block.  He  could  frame  sen- 
tences like  these  quite  handily,  but  he  was  best  at 
home  with  the  sentiment — the  essence  of  the  busi- 
ness— and  was  not  so  keen  on  the  phraseology.  But 
here  he  felt  that  perhaps,  after  all,  a  little  telling 
would  be  not  only  advantageous  but  essential. 
And  when  the  advantageous  combines  with  the 
essential  the  valleys  are  filled  and  the  rough  places 
made  smooth. 

So  Stolemkin  spoke,  feeling  his  way,  as  it  were. 

"  Yes,  his  daughter." 

"  Um  !  "  Gordon's  eyes  said.  "  Go  on  :  there 
must  be  more  to  tell." 

"  The  fact  is,  but  this  is  not  for  other  ears." 

Gordon  nodded. 

"  She  is  to  be  my  son's  wife." 

"  I  congratulate  you,  Count." 

The  Chancellor's  authority  was  produced.  Gor- 
don read  it  with  more  care  than  he  was  wont  to 
cast  on  the  written  word  when  the  spoken  had  told 
him  the  context.    "  Her  Majesty  was  pleased  to 

give  her  consent  to  the  marriage  of  "  and  so 

on. 

There  still  seemed  to  be  something  lacking.  Why 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  35 


this  searching  out  of  him,  Louis  William  Gordon, 
to  fetch  the  lady  ?  It  seemed  odd — a  little  out  of 
the  common  

"  And  I  am  to  fetch  her  to  her  husband  then  ?  " 
he  said. 

*'  Yes  ;  that  is  the  business." 

"  Will  she  come  willingly  ?  " 

"  I  think  so,"  said  Stolemkin.  He  produced 
another  paper  signed  by  the  Lord  Chamberlain 
bidding  the  Countess  Puroff  accompany  the  bearer 
to  St.  Petersburg.  (There  were  two  others  of  these 
as  there  were  two  others  of  the  "  Consents,"  only 
in  the  latter  other  names  were  mentioned).  "  That 
you  will  show  to  the  Countess." 

Gordon  took  the  document. 
When  would  you  like  me  to  start  ?  " 

"  At  once.  The  sooner  the  better.  The  reward 
is  yours  if  you  bring  the  Countess  safe  to  me  in  St. 
Petersburg  " 

"  I  understand." 

The  Count  thought  a  warning  advisable. 

"  Be  careful  as  well  as  speedy.  I  have  reason  to 
think — ^at  least,  I  believe  it  is  possible  there  may  be 
attempts  made  to  seize  the  person  of  the  Countess  : 
frustrate  them.  You  may  use  any  efforts — ^legiti- 
mate, of  course." 

"  Legitimate  ?  "  Gordon  repeated  the  word  with 
a  light  of  wonder  on  it. 

The  Count  didn't  laugh,  but  his  smile  was  attrac- 
tive.   It  suggested  a  broad  interpretation. 

"  Any  efforts,"  he  repeated,  that  will  not  be  to 
your  hurt  or  the  lady's." 

Gordon  nodded  understandingly. 


36  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  You  believe,"  he  said,  "  there  will  be  at- 
tempts ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  believe  so.  That  is  why  I  ask  you  to 
lose  no  time  and  be  prudent :  and  why  I  have  chosen 
you.  I  want  some  one  whom  I  can  trust,  some  one 
who  will  not  be  beaten  when  his  honour  and  ability 
are  at  stake." 

The  Count  was,  one  perceives,  not  stupid  in  his 
dealings  with  men. 

Gordon,  who  was  usually  fluent  with  both  men 
and  women,  was  now  comparatively  silent.  He  felt 
(while  he  swallowed  the  flattery)  that  something  in 
the  scheme  was  hidden.  But  he  smiled  and  bowed. 
So  far  as  he  envisaged  the  affair,  his  role  seemed  clear, 
and,  as  a  rule,  he  found  it  almost  enough  to  know 
what  he  had  to  do  :  though  he  always  realized  the 
advantage  he  got  from  knowing  what  the  others  had 
in  view. 

Still,  for  him  to  bring  a  youthful  Countess  for  a 
bride  to  St.  Petersburg  was  a  congenial  task,  and  his 
eye  brightened  at  the  thought  of  it.  What  did  it 
matter  that  this  Count  Stolemkin  was  a  ruse  villain, 
up  to  ways  dark  and  unseemly,  that  he  was  known 
for  cruelties  and  trickeries  ?  Gordon  felt  he  was 
nothing  in  the  business.  The  great  thing  was  the 
adventure.  An  expedition  with  flying  horses  and 
yelling  postboys,  through  a  country  vast,  wild, 
full  of  the  unexpected,  and  no  stint  of  danger  and 
peril  to  limb  and  life,  with  a  fine  reward  for  entice- 
ment and  blood  at  its  liveliest  during  the  pursuit 
for  present  guerdon. 

Stolemkin,  seeing  he  had  his  man,  was  lavish  in 
preparations  and  all  the  needs  of  the  journey. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


He  also  added  a  warning  note. 
With  the  authority  you  have,"  he  said,  '*  the 
Countess  must  come  with  you  to  St.  Petersburg,  but 
you  need  not  mention  the  marriage." 

"  I  must  not,  or  need  not  ?  " 

Count  Stolemkin  hesitated. 
I  have  told  you,"  he  said,  "  so  that  you  may 
understand ;  but  for  a  woman  that  is  not  always 
necessary.  She  will  learn  all  in  St.  Petersburg,  and 
— you  have  the  authority  to  bring  her,  so  I  trust  to 
your  discretion." 

Gordon  nodded. 

For  a  moment  or  two  he  was  thoughtful.  He 
conned  the  situation  :  he  was  to  fetch  a  woman  to 
be  married  who  clearly  had  no  idea  that  her  hus- 
band had  been  chosen  for  her.  There  was  romance 
here,  perhaps  devilry,  perhaps — ^but  he  had  travelled 
widely  and  seen  much.  Women  were  married  every 
day  like  this.  And  what  did  it  matter  ?  Some 
were  happy  and  some  were  not,  and  that  was  the 
case  with  all  husbands  and  wives.  The  romantic 
note  hidden  in  the  adventure  made  it  all  the  more 
alluring,  and  perhaps  Stolemkin*s  son  was  not  like 
his  father.  If  he  were — well,  there  might  be  more 
adventures  and  more  romance  in  St.  Petersburg 
afterwards. 

It  was  a  bright  world  after  all ! 

He  kept  these  thoughts  to  himself. 

"  You  will  lose  no  time  ?  "  said  the  Count,  who 
had  been  watching  him  closely  and  understood 
httle.  Beer,  brandy  and  blood  won't  of  necessity 
let  a  man  see  in  the  heart  of  another.  Count 
Stolemkin  never  saw  fairies  in  the  forests,  though 
he  could  kill  wolves. 


38  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


*'  I  will  prepare  at  once,"  said  Gordon. 

He  said  good-bye  to  his  friend  the  Scottish  cap- 
tain and  said  he  was  going  to  fetch  a  gleam  of  sun- 
shine for  the  Prince  of  Darkness. 

The  man  from  Edinburgh  laughed. 
Mon,  Louis,  it's  a  mad  idea  !    Bottlin'  simshine 
is  ower  muckle  deefficult,  an'  the  Prince  o'  Darkness 
is  a  damned  poor  master." 

Louis  winked.  It  was  as  if  he  said  sunshine  was 
very  much  in  his  line  and  the  Prince  of  Darkness  not 
to  be  feared. 

"  If  I  had  your  speerit,"  said  the  other,  almost 
sighing. 

"You  might  have  my  pocket,  too,"  rejoined 
Louis. 

The  man  from  Edinburgh  looked  frightened  and 
then  laughed.    He  continued  laughing  ! 


CHAPTER  IV 


**  Her  virtues,  graced  with  external  gifts, 
Do  breed  love's  settled  passions  in  my  heart. ^ 

— Henry  VI. 

THE  Count  was  pleased  beyond  his  expectation 
on  seeing  his  messenger  go  forth.  There 
was  about  Gordon  an  air  that  bred  confidence,  and 
Stolemkin  sniffed  it  to  his  comfort. 

Louis  in  his  kibitka  (with  a  feather  bed  at  the 
bottom)  was  snug  and  full  of  the  promise  of  glad- 
ness. He  took  with  him  two  trusty  men  for  com- 
pany and  service  in  times  of  meals  and  mauls,  and 
set  out  drawn  by  eight  horses,  four  abreast. 

The  Count  brought  his  son  to  see  Gordon  go  on 
his  errand. 

He  will  come  back  with  your  wife,"  said  the 
calculating  father  to  the  frail  and  fearful  son. 

Vasili  Antonovitch  looked  with  staring  eyes, 
whose  pupils  got  bigger  and  less.  He  looked  fear- 
fully anxious. 

"  I  may  not  like  her,"  he  muttered. 

His  father  thrust  him  away,  swearing. 

"  May  not  like  her,"  he  repeated,  with  an  abun- 
dant emphasis.  What  was  the  present  generation 
coming  to  ? 

The  kibitka,  a  pile  of  hay  behind,  postillions, 

39 


40 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


dressed  in  a  coarse  drugget,  on  the  off  horses,  went 
away  with  a  dash.  The  postillions  had  no  method 
in  their  driving :  merely  humour.  They  made 
the  horses  gallop  when  they  chose  :  they  made  them 
walk  for  a  similar  reason.  So  they  sometimes 
galloped  up  hills  and  walked  down ;  they  dashed 
over  rough  roads  and  crawled  over  smooth,  and  had 
no  notion  that  they  did  anything  but  God's  will  and 
the  pleasure  of  the  great  person  in  the  carriage. 
That  is  how  ignorance  wastes  life.  In  some  way  or 
other  most  of  us  insist  on  running  up  the  hills  and 
CI  awi  ng  down. 

The  Countess  Piuroff,  so  Count  Stolemkin  had 
discovered,  was  at  this  time  living  at  her  castle  near 
Buof ,  so  Gordon  had  to  ^tavel  through  Novgorod, 
Tver,  Moscow  and  Tula.  ^ 

He  carried  a  great  store  of  provisions  with  him 
and  drove  day  and  night  as  much  as  he  could.  It 
was  the  custom  at  that  time,  for  hotels  were  few  and 
poor,  and  even  the  madness  of  postboys  was  to  be 
endured  more  easily  than  the  doubtful  food  and 
certain  discomfort  of  the  wayside  inn. 

Gordon  got  his  adventures  on  the  road.  He 
was  dashed  over  a  rickety  w^ooden  bridge  with  no 
rail,  and  one  wheel  had  a  suicidal  look  at  the  water 
below  and  was  then  dragged  incontirent  on  to  the 
bank.  Twice  the  kibitka  went  in  a  ditch  and  Louis 
came  forth  with  anathemas  on  his  tongue  and  a 
good  stout  whip  in  his  hand.  It  certainly  was  dis- 
comforting. At  post  houses,  too,  there  were  lazy 
folk  and  disobliging  folk,  and  a  biting  tongue  and 
cutting  lash  accomplished  even  less  there  than  the 
sight  of  the  paper  signed  by  the  all-powerful  Biren. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  41 


There  were  also  bears  on  the  road  and  wolves  in 
the  forest,  and  twice  Gordon  was  warned  of  robbers. 
They  had  been  but  a  short  time  before  to  the  village 
and  flogged  a  rich  merchant  to  get  money,  and 
nobody  had  dared  to  interfere. 

Louis  William  Gordon  was  too  sensible  to  rush 
into  danger  for  danger's  sake,  and  he  avoided  robbers 
for  his  own.  So  the  incidents  were  mostly  accidents 
and  generally  without  savour  or  the  warming  of  the 
heart :  and  it  was  with  gladness  that  he  heard  the 
postboy  yelUng  "  Davai !  Davai !  "  Horses  ! 
Horses  !  for  the  last  time  before  he  arrived  at  the 
castle  of  the  Countess  Puroff. 

"  Here  we  are,  Johan  Paulovitch,"  he  said  to  one 
of  his  two  companions  (Stephen  Gregorovitch  was 
the  other).  Here  comes  to  an  end  for  the  present 
the  genial  idiocy  of  postillion  and  postman." 

"  For  the  present,"  said  Johan  Paulo vitch. 

"  Thank  God  !  even  for  the  present,"  said  Stephen 
Grego  ovitch,  who  liked  comforts,  and  caught  sight 
of  the  castle  on  the  hill. 

It  was  not  a  feudal  building,  suggestive  of  sieges 
and  defiance,  but  a  big  rambling  structure  with  the 
lower  part  constructed  of  brick  and  the  upper  of 
wood. 

The  postboys  dashed  the  horses  towards  the 
house  with  frantic  haste,  as  if  this  was  the  last 
chance  for  a  gallop,  and  the  stolid  peasants  who  saw 
bared  their  heads  and  bent  them  in  reverence. 

Gordon  felt  in  better  humour.  This  was  far 
pleasanter  than  swearing  at  blunderers.  The  house 
suggested  wealth.  There  were  treasures  of  gold 
and  silver  that  made  it  alluring  to  the  covetous 


42  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


and  agreeable  to  most.  Neither  was  it  spoiled  by 
a  mixture — a  bad  mixture  of  east  and  west.  It  was 
Russian  and  west  so  far  as  furnishings  went. 

Then  the  Countess  appeared,  backed  by  a  man, 
a  fine,  stout,  solid  creature,  towering  even  higher 
than  Gordon,  with  devotion  tattoed  on  his  soul — 
you  could  read  the  lettering  through  his  eyes. 

But  the  big  man  was  overcast  by  the  maid.  He 
might  have  been  a  big  tree,  or  a  high  wall,  or  a  castle 
even,  but  she  was  a  glorious  ray  of  sunlight.  She 
had  a  smile  that  might  have  been  considered  exuber- 
ant in  another,  but  with  her  was  just  and  beautiful. 

Gordon  had  not  time  to  say  that  he  came  to  her 
as  a  messenger  with  authority  from  the  Lord  Cham- 
berlain, before  she  welcomed  him  as  a  guest  and 
hoped  he  would  make  her  house  his  home  for  as  long 
as  it  pleased  him. 

"  The  air  of  a  queen  because  she  has  never  been 
to  a  court,"  said  Gordon  to  himself. 

He  was  elaborate,  not  overdoing  it,  but  he  felt 
homagewards.  He  bowed  gracefully  and  thanked 
her  with  charm.  For  the  moment  he  kept  silent 
over  his  errand.  It  seemed  almost  cruel  to  thrust 
on  her  the  news  that  she  was  to  go  to  St.  Petersburg 
to  be  married  to  the  son  of  Count  Stolemkin.  Gor- 
don, away  from  Stolemkin  and  near  to  Melania 
Nicholovna,  Countess  Puroff,  took  quite  another 
view  of  his  mission.  The  Countess  seemed  to  deserve 
happiness  :  she  conferred  it,  that  was  evident. 

After  they  had  drunk  the  wine  of  hospitality,  Gor- 
don began  to  remind  himself  that  he  had  a  mission 
not  a  licence.  It  was  not  his  part  to  disport  himself 
at  his  ease  in  this  place,  b*it  to  take  the  lady  to  St. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


43 


Petersburg.  Besides,  there  might  be  danger  in 
delay,  for  there  were  others  on  errands  similar  to 
his  own.  But  he  looked  at  her  as  she  talked  and 
walked,  and  wondered  if  he  did  right. 

"  You  are  journeying  f ar  ?  "  she  asked,  with  a 
smile. 

Gordon  hesitated  a  moment.  The  voice  and  the 
smile  were  too  good  to  be  intruded  upon  by  his 
doings.    But  it  had  to  be. 

"  Only  so  far  as  I  have  come.  Countess." 

"  And  you  have  come  far  ?  " 

"  From  St.  Petersburg." 

Her  eyes,  violet  blue  with  depths  and  tales  in 
them,  looked  wonder  and  admiration. 

From  St.  Petersburg,"  she  repeated.  "  I  have 
never  been  since  I  was  a  child.  My  father  " — her 
face  took  on  a  curtain  of  sorrow  for  a  brief  moment, 
but  the  beautiful  life  in  her  gently  put  the  curtain 
aside — "  preferred  I  should  be  in  the  country." 

"  But  now-  "  said  Gordon,  and  he  hesitated. 

"  I  may  go  some  day,"  she  said. 

"  That,  I  think,"  he  replied,  is  true.  I  have 
come  to  take  you  there." 

It  was  magnificent  surprise  and  quite  worth 
the  causing.  She  ceased  to  smile,  looked  as  if  to 
say,  "  What !  To  take  me  there — ^me — to  St. 
Petersburg  ?  " 

There  were  heaps  of  suggestions  in  her  eyes,  and 
her  mouth  gently  opened  up  and  framed — 

"  Oh !  " 
Quite  true,  Countess." 

"  Is  that  what  you  have  come  f or  ?  "  she  asked 
with  surprise  still  on  her  face. 


44  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"It  is  :  that  is  my  errand." 
"  I  cannot  understand,"  she  said,  with  a  winning 
innocence. 

Then  Belof,  the  man  in  whom  she  now  put  all 
her  trust,  her  steward,  adviser,  major-domo  and 
general  guide,  with  red  hair  all  over  his  head  and 
face — nearly,  leaned  forward  with  a  suspicious  air. 

"  His  authority,  Melania  Nicholovna — ask  hhn 
for  his  authority." 

She  hesitated.  She  felt  that  such  a  question 
implied  doubt,  and  she  was  innocent  enough  to 
believe  the  improbable  as  well  as  the  probable.  As 
for  doubting  the  gallant  gentleman  who  spoke  with 
her — impossible  ! 

Gordon  was  discreet.  He  drew  forth  his  author- 
ity, and  the  name  of  the  Lord  Chancellor  awed  both 
the  Countess  and  Belof.  The  Countess  looked  more 
serious.  (Probably  Belof  also  felt  more  serious, 
though  he  could  not  betray  more.) 

"  Why  ?  "  the  lady  asked,  with  a  gentle,  confid- 
ing air. 

"  At  the  Court,  Countess — you  know — they  are 
always  wanting  something.  They  may  just  desire 
to  make  your  acquaintance,  to  learn  what  the  people 
are  like  in  this  part  of  the  world.  They  have  lots 
of  reasons  of  their  own." 

She  fixed  him  with  those  violet  eyes. 

"  And  did  they  not  tell  one  of  them  to  you  ?  ** 

Gordon  had  not  spoken  with  conviction.  He 
was  beginning  to  dislike  his  errand.  To  take  a  lily 
like  this  to  St.  Petersburg  and  hand  her  over  to  the 
son  of  Stolemkin.  He  found  it  very  difiicult  to 
speak  with  sincerity. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  45 


"  What  they  told  me,  Countess,"  he  replied,  "  was 
to  make  haste  here  and  make  haste  back,  to  protect 
you  from  harm  and  bring  you  safe  to  St.  Peters- 
burg." 

The  last  two  instructions  carried  him  over  the 
fence.  There  was  a  neat  offer  of  service  as  well  as 
a  duty  in  them  :  there  was  honour  and  responsi- 
bility and  may  be  danger  laid  on  this  gentleman's 
shoulders.  To  catechize  him  further  was  curiosity 
carried  to  unkindness. 

Belof  considered  the  hesitation  weak  and  his 
suspicions  strong. 

"  I  am  grateful  to  you,"  said  the  Countess.  "  It 
is  most  kind  of  you  to  do  me  this  service." 

"  Countess,  it  is  I  who  receive  the  kindness  in 
being  allowed  to  be  yom:  most  obedient  ser- 
vant." 

She  fluttered  with  delight. 

"  Oh  !  "  was  aU  she  said,  but  she  shook  her  head 
as  much  as  to  say,  That  is  too  beautiful  for  me  to 
attempt  to  copy." 

"  I  do  not  know  your  name  ?  " 

"  Gordon — Louis  WilHam  Gordon,  Louis  Alexan- 
drovitch,  if  you  prefer  it,  and  unfalteringly  at  your 
service." 

"  Louis  Alexandrovitch."  She  said  it  prettily. 
"  I  am  Melania  Nicholovna,  and — and  I  thank  you 
for  your  service." 

They  both  bowed  gracefully.  Also,  the  reader 
will  remark,  they  called  each  other  by  their  Christian 
names,  and  the  Christian  names  of  their  fathers  with 
son  added  on  for  Gordon  and  daughter  for  the  Coun- 
tess's.  That  was  and  is  the  Russian  custom. 


46 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Louis  Alexandre vitch,  when  would  you  like 
me  to  start  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  At  once — as  soon  as  possible,  Melania  Nicholov- 
na.    My  instructions  on  that  point  were  precise." 

He  was  thinking  now  of  the  two  other  obedient 
servants  who  might  arrive  at  any  moment,  and  he 
had  no  disposition  now  to  surrender  his  charge  to 
any  interloper.  On  the  road  there  was  a  chance  to 
get  across  a  horse  with  her  in  case  of  necessity.  In 
the  house  there  were  too  many  doors  and  windows. 

"  At  once."  She  turned  to  Belof.  "  Did  you 
hear  that  ?  I  am  to  go  to  St.  Petersburg  at  once 
with  this  gentleman." 

"  Yes,  Melania  Nicholovna."  He  looked  as  if 
he  would  like  to  add,  And  I  don't  think  much  of 
the  idea." 

"  Then  I  shall  have  to  get  ready  at  once  ?  " 

"  It  would  be  best,"  said  Gordon. 

She  turned  to  the  man  with  the  red  hair. 

"  Paul  Stephanovitch,  see  that  everything  is  got 
ready  for  me  at  once."  She  had  authority  in  her 
somehow — in  her  blood  and  upbringing,  for  this 
big  man,  who  was  accustomed  to  guide  and  advise 
her  as  much  as  possible,  clearly  disliked  the  pro- 
jected journey,  yet  he  turned  as  she  spoke. 

"  Yes,  Melania  Nicholovna,"  he  said,  and  strode 
away  to  do  his  duty. 

The  Countess  then  excused  herself  and  left  Gor- 
don to  return  to  his  two  companions.  But  he  did 
not  join  Nickoff  and  Pendeff  at  once.  He  wondered 
at  his  errand.  He  had  set  out  gaily  enough,  for 
adventures  of  this  kind  were  sunlight  and  joy  to 
him.    And  one  woman  was  not  so  different  from 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  47 


another  woman.  Not  so  very.  But  now,  this  violet- 
eyed  slip  of  a  girl,  with  her  mass  of  tinted  auburn 
hair  that  was  plaited  round  and  round  because  of 
its  length,  and  her  winning  confidence  and  captivat- 
ing innocence,  appealed  to  him  as  something  differ- 
ent from  all  other  women  on  earth — at  least,  that 
he  had  seen  and  known.  And  to  take  her  to  Stolem- 
kin,  to  be  handed  over  like  a  bottle  of  wine  or  the 
roe  of  a  sturgeon  

And  yet  she  would  probably  fare  no  better  in 
the  hands  of  the  others  who  came,  all  greedy  with 
greed,  reeking  of  spoil,  caring  nothing  for  the  real 
treasure  

Gordon  wondered  what  was  the  matter  with  him 
that  he  bothered  like  this  over  a  girl  with  violet 
eyes  and  auburn  hair. 

"  Louis  Alexandrovitch."  Hadn't  she  said  it 
prettily  ? 

But  this  was  preposterous,  sentimental,  woman- 
ish silliness !  Gordon  strode  out  to  find  his  two 
companions  and  to  see  that  all  was  got  ready  for 
the  journey.  He  had  a  part  to  play,  not  clouds  to 
wander  in. 

Nickoff  and  Pendeff  had  apparently  been  hospit- 
ably entertained.  They  were  in  the  best  of  humours 
and  looked  jovial. 

Nickoff  held  out  a  goblet. 

"  Praised  be  the  Saints  in  Heaven — ^here  is  a  safe 
journey  back,  Louis  Alexandrovitch."    He  drank. 

'*  Don't  drink  too  often  to  the  Saints  in  Heaven, 
Johan  Paulovitch,"  replied  Gordon.  "  They  don't 
appreciate  that  kind  of  thing,  and  you  will  want  a 
clear  head  to  go  back  on  the  return  journey." 


48 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"Do  we  start  at  once  ?  "  Pendeff  asked. 
"  We  do/' 

"  The  Saints  in  Heaven  be — ^no,  that  will  scarcely 
do.  And  I  had  hoped  for  decent  bed  and  board  for 
two  days  and  nights  at  least.  At  once ;  what  does 
that  mean  ?  " 

"  It  means,  Stephen  Gregorovitch,  that  as  soon 
as  Her  Excellency,  the  Countess  Puroff  "  (he  wanted 
to  add,  "  Bless  her  !  "  but  didn't ;  he  paused  all  the 
same),  "  is  ready,  we  too  shall  be  ready." 

Then  TU  pray  to  the  Saints  she  may  take  an 
ordinary  woman's  time  in  getting  ready  for  a  long 
journey." 

*'  The  Countess  is  not  an  ordinary  woman,"  said 
Louis  very  quickly. 

Pend  £f  slowly  filled  his  goblet  and  raised  it. 

"  Then  I  hope  she  will  take  an  extraordinary 
woman's  time,"  he  said,  and  drained  his  goblet  with 
gusto. 

"  Amen  to  that,"  said  Nickoff. 

"  If  you  are  not  quite  sober  and  quite  ready  when 
I  am,  my  friends,"  said  Gordon  with  a  bright  look 
in  his  eye,  "  something  extraordinary  will  happen 
to  you,"  and  he  went  out  to  sit  by  himself  near 
a  clump  of  trees,  for  he  felt  in  an  uncommon 
mood. 

The  country  was  not  beautiful ;  but  there  was 
an  atmosphere  of  bigness  about  the  place.  They 
were  just  on  the  border-line  of  the  black  land  and  the 
arable  steppes.  Here,  according  to  Herodotus, 
the  Scythians  lived  by  agriculture  and  Athens  drew 
her  grain.  In  this  famed  black  land  the  richest 
harvests  can  be  produced  without  manure,  though 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  49 


Ignorance  can  blight  Nature  as  Stupidity  can  numb 
the  brain. 

Where  the  Countess  lived  there  were  trees — the 
fir  and  the  birch — in  plenty.  A  gentle  wind  blew 
from  the  south  and  a  resinous  scent  came  to  Gor- 
don's nostrils  as  he  sat  looking  across  the  vast 
steppe.  The  vegetation  in  parts,  where  the  land 
was  not  tilled,  grew  luxuriantly  wild  to  a  height  of 
six  or  seven  feet.  It  tossed  a  green  mane  to  the 
wind  and  gave  back  the  challenge  of  the  sun.  Spring 
was  here.  In  the  autumn  all  would  be  brown  and 
parched  :  but  now  there  was  promise  everywhere. 

Gordon  looked  and  wondered.  Countess  Puroff 
in  this  vast  country,  with  big,  mighty  forces  round 
her,  and  as  happy  as  a  singing  bird  in  a  forest  where 
the  snake  and  the  lion  lived  and  lusted.  A  silver 
birch  in  a  forest  of  oak. 

Those  violet  eyes  and  that  fresh  cheek — that 

innocent  smile          Gordon  got  up  and  wandered 

back  towards  the  house.  He  had  never  been  so 
disturbed  by  womankind  before.  The  hussies,  the 
cozeners,  the  black-eyed,  blue-eyed,  brown-eyed 
beauties  whom  he  had  ogled  and  kissed,  made  no 
impression  on  him  like  this  slip  of  a  girl. 

"  God  in  Heaven  !  I  am  in  love  with  the  girl !  " 
he  said  to  himself.  "  In  love  with  her.  And  I  am 
taking  her  to  be  the  wife  of  another  man.'' 

He  shook  himself — metaphorically.  Literally,  he 
moved  quickly  and  strode  away,  anywhere  to  be 
alone.  He  felt  it  was  impossible  that  he  was  in  love 
at  last.  And  so  speedily,  too.  As  if  he  had  toppled 
over  a  bridge  while  looking  at  the  water.  But  such 
water— violet,  with  forests  all  round;  trees  of  a 

D 


50  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


gorgeous  fancy  framed  with  the  most  delicate 
auburn  blossom  that  one  could  fancy  

Violet  water  !  Did  anybody  ever  hear  such  non- 
sense ?    And  auburn  blossom  ? 

He  tried  swearing.  It  relieved  him  for  a  moment, 
just  as  movement  did,  but  it  did  not  wear  well. 
He  caught  himself  sighing,  and  that  seemed  proof 
tremendous. 

He  faced  the  matter  seriously.  Was  he  really 
and  truly  in  love  with  the  Countess  Puroff  ?  Melania 
Nicholovna.  He  repeated  the  words  with  a  joyous 
relish.  He  found  he  couldn't  answer  a  straight- 
forward question  without  thinking  of  the  form  and 
features  of  a  maiden  he  had  only  just  seen,  who 
would,  if  she  were  beside  him,  reach  to  about  there 
— no,  there  

He  doubled  up  his  fists  and  walked  briskly  in 
another  direction.  One  fact,  at  least,  was  clear : 
he  was  behaving  in  a  most  uncommon  fashion,  and 
when  he  had  a  serious  mission  before  him  antics  of 
such  irresponsibility  were  out  of  place.  He  screwed 
himself  up  and  walked  back  towards  the  house.  He 
was  met  by  a  servant. 

Her  Excellency  was  hurrying  forward  all  her 
preparations  and  would  be  ready  to  start  at 
dawn." 

At  dawn  !  It  was  not  a  clear,  fixed,  matter-of- 
fact  period,  unemotional  and  prosaic,  but  one 
charged  with  poetry.  "  At  dawn."  It  sounded  now 
like  something  most  promising.  It  was  the  end  of 
night :  the  black  figure  had  gone  and  the  birth  of  a 
new  day  rose  on  the  horizon.  It  was  the  hour 
Nature  woke  and  the  lazy  earth  turned  over  in  its 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  51 


bed,  rubbed  its  eyes  and  then  said,  "  Now  things 
will  be  different." 

"  The  Saints  preserve  me  !  said  Gordon  to  him- 
self. "  I  am  indeed  growing  bletherish.  This  is 
the  way  of  children,  of  babes,  milk-drinkers  and 
femininity  in  general.  I,  Louis  William  Gordon, 
to  be  mooning  like  a  blighted  dove,  driven  about 
like  a  sickly,  unmuzzled  poet — paf  !  " 

He  strode  back  to  his  two  companions,  quickly, 
resolutely,  and  with  vigour. 

"  We  leave  at  dawn,"  he  said.  "  See  you  are 
ready." 

They  looked  up  drowsily  and  nodded.  They  had 
much  to  do  before  then  and  turned  at  once  to  sleep. 

Gordon  followed  their  example  and  dreamt  of  the 
sun  rising,  only  it  had  violet  eyes  and  a  superb 
aureola  of  auburn  hair.    A  preposterous  dream. 


CHAPTER  V 


"  Affliction  is  enamour' d  of  thy  parts. 
And  thou  art  wedded  to  calamity.*' 

— Romeo  and  Juliet 

BEFORE  the  dawn  there  was  hurrying  and 
scurrying.  Men  came  out  with  parcels  and 
boxes  and  packed  them  on  a  carriage  which  was  to 
follow  the  Countess.  Some  of  the  men  had  lanterns, 
and  some  carried  the  lighted  pine  torches  of  the 
peasants,  who  could  not  generally  afford  candles. 
These  men  were  dressed  in  a  coarse  robe  of  drugget 
which  reached  below  the  knee  and  was  bound  round 
the  waist  with  a  sash.  The  linen  of  the  trousers 
was  thick  and  coarse,  and  for  stockings  they  wrapped 
a  woollen  cloth  round  their  legs,  and  fastened  them 
with  strips  of  flexible  bark — the  material  of  which 
their  sandals  were  made. 

Night  seemed  to  be  passing  lazily.  The  air 
clung  to  its  children.  No  breeze  came  in  madness 
or  mirth  to  disturb  or  freshen.  Tree  and  shrub, 
and  leaf  even,  were  still  as  if  Rest  held  them,  and  the 
air  did  its  best  to  make  no  disturbance.  Into  the 
greyness  there  stole  some  silver  gleams,  and  the 
clouds  moved  with  a  slow  majesty  as  if  they  knew 
their  place  and  the  manner  of  homage  making  to  the 
sun. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


53 


"  We  shall  soon  be  ready,"  said  Melania  Nicholov- 
na  to  Gordon  as  they  stood  together  watching  the 
men  carry  and  fasten.  She  was  dressed  in  a  robe 
of  rose-coloured  silk,  tied  round  the  waist  with  a 
sash.  The  sleeves  were  white,  and  there  were  enamel 
buttons  of  oriental  design  on  the  dress.  She  had 
on  a  round  cap  of  sable,  and  there  were  furs  for  her 
in  case  she  felt  the  cold. 

"  I  hope  we  shall  have  a  pleasant  journey,"  said 
Gordon. 

"Is  there  need  for  haste  ?  "  she  asked. 
"  Yes." 

"  Why  am  I  suddenly  summoned  to  the  capital  ? 
It  is  strange,  Louis  Alexandrovitch.  Have  you 
no  idea  of  the  reason  that  calls  me  ?  " 

Pestilential  question  ! 

Gordon  looked  diplomatic — as  well  as  a  pair  of 
violet  eyes  would  let  him. 

"It  is  difficult  to  guess  sometimes  the  motives 
of  the  powerful,  Melania  Nicholovna,  and  occasion- 
ally dangerous.  I  am  a  discreet  man.  For  me  it 
is  enough  to  obey  orders  ;  just  as  I  allow  no  one  to 
question  mine.  You — ^you  are  a  great  person. 
Countess." 

She  sighed. 

"  A  great  person.  I  have  known  the  great 
become  very  small.  And  none  of  them  seemed  able 
to  command  happiness.  Don't  you  think  happi- 
ness is  better  than  greatness  ?  " 

"  Greatness  is  to  happiness  as  one  of  those  pine 
torches  to  the  sun.  It  takes  some  labour  to  get 
that,  and  the  light  and  the  heat  give  us  some  satis- 
faction ;  but  the  sun,  which  comes  unsought  and 


54  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


unasked  for,  will  warm  more  and  light  more.  If  you 
hunt  for  happiness  you  won't  get  it ;  and  if  you 
strive  for  greatness  you  will  assuredly  miss  happi- 
ness." 

"  That  is  not  very  encouraging,  Louis  Alexandro- 
vitch." 

"  The  truth  doesn't  bother  with  encouragements 
or  discouragements,  dear  lady.  You  take  it  as 
you  find  it." 

"  From  which  you  would  have  me  infer  that  I 
must  go  to  St.  Petersburg  and  ask  no  questions." 

"  It  is  not  a  bad  way,  Melania  Nicholovna." 

"  You  mean  to  St.  Petersburg,  or  to  happiness  ?  " 

"  The  Saints  howl  at  St.  Petersburg — I  meant 
happiness.  Do  what  you  are  told  if  that's  your 
business  and  take  the  nice  things  the  Good  God  pro- 
vides. There's  a  chance  of  happiness.  Everything 
else  can  go  to — St.  Petersburg." 

"  I  wonder,"  she  said  after  a  pause,  "  if  you  are  a 
good  guide."    She  had  a  look  of  doubt. 

"  That,  Melania  Nicholovna,  you  shall  tell  me 
when  you  get  to  St.  Petersburg,"  he  replied. 

He  winced  in  mind  as  he  thought  of  that  arrival 
in  the  capital,  for  it  meant,  of  course,  handing  over 
the  Countess  to  the  son  of  Stolemkin. 

She  looked  quite  grave  as  she  said — 

"  I  trust  you,  Louis  Alexandrovitch." 

It  was  meant  for  comfort,  but  it  came  ironically. 

"  I  am  honoured,"  he  said,  almost  bitterly,  for 
he  was  beginning  to  dislike  his  job  more  and  more. 
Had  the  Countess  been  a  grisly  creature  or  merely 
somewhat  grizzled  he  might  have  gone  with  a  gay 
and  gladsome  heart  back  to  the  calculating  Stolem- 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  53 


kin  :  but  this  sweet  innocent !  And  she  thanked 
him  and  trusted  him  ! 

But  Belof  was  not  hke  his  mistress.  He  seemed 
to  wonder  and  wonder  and  wonder  what  that  man 
meant  who  would  take  his  mistress  to  St.  Peters- 
burg. He  certainly  did  not  trust  him.  Why  did 
he  not  tell  why  he  came  and  took  Melania  Nicholov- 
na  to  the  capital  ?  What  a  pity  there  was  a  woman 
on  the  throne  !  One,  too,  who  let  the  cursed  Ger- 
man do  so  much.  The  peasants  said  the  crops  would 
not  grow  because  a  woman  ruled,  and  they  prayed 
to  Peter  to  come  back  and  drive  Biren  the  German 
away. 

But  Belof  was  able  to  do  nothing  save  watch  and 
wonder.  The  Countess  gave  him  plenty  of  orders, 
and  he  listened  to  them  all  and  tried  to  watch  Gor- 
don at  the  same  time.  And  finally  all  was  ready. 
The  Countess  with  her  woman  got  into  the  carriage 
— a  kibitka  like  Gordon's  with  a  feather  bed  at  the 
bottom  (two,  to  be  accurate) — the  postboys  mounted, 
Gordon  got  in  his  carriage,  the  peasants  who  were 
about  went  on  their  knees,  and  the  priest,  who  had 
come  in  haste,  uttered  a  prayer  for  the  safety  of  the 
Countess,  and  the  calvalcade — including  the  carriages 
— went  on  the  road  .towards  the  capital — and 
adventure. 

Gordon,  at  first,  had  decided  to  go  alone  in  his 
kibitka  :  then  he  changed  his  mind.  That  was  his 
humour  for  the  moment.  He  took  Nickoff  and 
Pendeff  in  the  carriage  with  him.  If  he  felt  angry 
they  would  be  handy  to  kick  :  if  he  wanted  conver- 
sation they  would  be  useful. 

He  did  not  kick,  so  he  was  not  ill-humoured  (which 


56  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


was  commendable  since  Melania  Nicholovna  was 
now  not  to  be  seen). 

"  I  thought,"  said  Nickoff, that  we  were  to  have 
excitements,  blood-stirring  moments,  prayers  to 
the  Saints  in  times  of  danger,  and  a  great  catalogue 
of  fearsome  scrapes  and  scapes.  This,"  he  nodded 
contemptuously,  "  is  more  like  a  pious  and  not 
unpleasant  pilgrimage." 

"  Do  you  complain  ?  "  asked  Gordon. 

"  Say  No,"  entreated  Pendeff.  "  I  don't  like  to 
annoy  Providence.  I  knew  a  man  once  who  laughed 
at  danger,  and  he  had  his  head  split  in  two  with  a 
dubine  in  Moscow  only  half  an  hour  afterwards." 

*'  Directed  by  Providence  because  he  boasted, 
eh?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  I  never  catechize  Providence.  I 
don't  really  understand  :  but  I  give  you  the  story, 
which  is  true." 

"  And  if  he  had  not  boasted  you  think  the  playful 
creature  who  flung  the  cudgel  would  not  have  hit 
your  friend  ?  Hit  another  man,  eh  ?  Or  missed 
altogether  because  at  that  time  nobody  happened 
to  boast  ?  Providence  seemingly  having  set  on 
that  rough  in  Moscow  to  hurl  a  dubine  at  men  who 
laughed  at  danger." 

Nickoff  laughed.  Gordon  was  seemingly  in  a 
teasing  mood  (recognizable  symptom  !),  but  PendefE 
shook  his  head. 

"  I  don't  know.  I  don't  catechize  Providence  : 
but  what  I  tell  you  is  true  " 

Nickoff  laughed  more  loudly  than  before :  an 
annoying  cachinnation.  Pendeff  went  red.  Gordon 
shook  his  head  and  said — 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  57 


"  If  you  were  not  lusty  with  the  sword  and  a 
man  to  stand  by  at  all  times  and  in  all  weathers, 
Stephen  Gregorovitch,  I  would  not  have  chosen 
you  to  come  with  me.  I  like  brightness,  sunlight, 
grace,  delicacy,  and  the  sweetest  Saints  in  Heaven 
would  lure  me  in  vain  to  give  you  those  qualities. 
You  have  the  humour  of  the  elephant :  it  is  gigan- 
tic. Your  foot  comes  down  on  pleasantness  with  a 
crash  crescendo.  Praised  be  the  Saints  !  You  are 
not  my  fool.  You  ought  to  be  a  jester  at  the  Court, 
Stephen  Gregorovitch.  Anna  Ivanovna  would  appre- 
ciate you  as  a  jester.  Your  bons  mots  about  Provi- 
dence and  the  man  in  Moscow  would  have  cured  the 
belly  ache  of  half  the  Court  and  shocked  the  Archi- 
mandrite into  reverence." 

Gordon  laughed.  He  was,  as  we  may  observe, 
in  a  gay  humour. 

What  is  it  ?  "  asked  Pendeff,  a  little  surprised, 
and  he  looked  at  Nickoff  for  elucidation.  Gordon's 
gaiety  was  unexpected. 

Nickoff  winked.    He  attempted  to  hum — 

"Her  hair  was  the  red  of  the  sunset. 
Her  eyes  were  the  sea's  deep  blue." 

Gordon  glared  so  steadily  that  Nickoff  slowly 
hummed  nothing  more  coherent.  He  felt  it  would 
be  a  useless  waste  of  bravado.  Pendeff  was  still 
in  the  dark.  He  looked  from  one  to  the  other  with 
a  curiously  inquiring  expression. 

"  I  do  not  understand,"  he  said,  shaking  his  head. 

One  might  judge  from  his  attitude  and  receptivity 
that  he  would  stand  and  die  at  his  post  and  never 


58 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


leave  a  friend.  This  kind  of  virtue  does  not  make 
us  chuckle,  and  so  nowadays  such  a  man  is  voted  a 
very  dull  creature.  The  world  is  at  the  feet  of  the 
laughter-makers,  and  yet  it  is  probably  the  sober 
folk  who  keep  it  going.  Pendeff  was  regarded  as  a 
boor  except  in  certain  critical  hours,  and  then  he 
became  the  one  person  of  importance.  Gordon  for- 
tunately understood  him  ;  and  perception  is  a  good 
share  of  good  living. 

"  It's  just  as  well  you  don't,"  he  said  to  Nickoff 
in  reply  to  his  last  remark,  and  then  somehow  there 
stole  Silence  with  a  warning  finger  into  the  carriage. 

Nickoff  was  discreet.  Gordon  was  wondering 
and  thinking  (we  know,  if  we  are  only  moderately 
discerning,  about  whom  he  was  thinking),  and  Pendeff 
was  hoping  those  fools  of  postboys  would  drive  so 
that  there  would  be  less  jolting. 

They  drove  now  within  sight  of  great  fields  of 
mullet  and  rye,  now  by  a  thick  forest  of  fir  and  birch, 
with  sentinels  of  elm  and  maple  that  seemed  to  have 
pushed  forward  from  the  south.  They  crossed 
rivers  over  strange  bridges  and  changed  horses  at 
the  posting  stations. 

Here  Gordon  saw  the  Countess  again,  inquired 
after  her  comfort,  reaped  her  smile  and  thanks,  and 
then  talked  so  that  poor  Pendeff  could  make  neither 
head  nor  tail  of  the  conversation. 

It  was  when  they  were  passing  along  a  road  cut 
through  a  forest  that  the  crash  came.  Gordon 
somehow  had  felt  a  sense  of  incident  and  was  hold- 
ing his  pistol  in  his  hand  when  there  burst  from 
trees  on  either  side  of  them  and  in  front  a  body 
of  weirdly-dressed  creatures,  wild,  ferocious,  des- 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  59 


perate  and  daring.  They  did  not  stop  to  parley. 
They  shot  bang  !  bang  !  They  shouted  loudly  as 
they  shot  and  then  leapt  at  the  horses  and  then  at 
the  carriages. 

There  were  shrieks  and  cries  from  the  postboys  ; 
the  horses  plunged  and  reared,  generally  for  the 
last  time  as  the  assailants  at  once  shot  them  to 
stop  further  progress. 

The  Countess  and  her  woman  screamed  for  help. 

"  Come  out  here  !  "  shouted  Gordon,  and  with 
pistol  and  sword  he  leapt  out  of  the  carriage.  Fury 
was  in  his  face.  Was  it  because  of  a  woman's  cry 
of  distress  ? 

He  fired  at  once  and  a  man  fell.  He  turned  to 
look  in  the  direction  of  the  Countess  and  shouted, 
"  This  way "  to  Nickoff  and  Pendeff  who  were 
beside  him. 

They  dashed  towards  the  figure  in  the  rose  and 
white  and  hurled  themselves  into  the  group  of  men 
there  with  a  charge  superb.  Gordon's  sword  went 
home  twice  with  a  sickly  swiftness.  His  other 
pistol  emptied  a  saddle.  He  was  at  the  Countess's 
side,  and  she  gave  a  cry  as  if  she  would  fling  herself 
in  his  arms,  when  he  was  hit  over  the  head  with  the 
butt  of  a  musket  and  dropped  in  a  pitiable  heap  at 
her  feet. 

She  screamed  and  fell  beside  him,  weeping  and 
praying. 

Nickoff  and  Pendeff  were  cut  and  bleeding  and 
dropped  from  sheer  weight  of  numbers.  What 
were  half  a  dozen  among  so  many  ? 

The  Countess's  men,  who  were  behind  her,  had 
been  taken  unawares,  and  received  the  first  shots  of 


6o  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


the  attackers.  Two  were  dead,  three  were  dying, 
and  galloping  hoofs  told  the  tale  of  the  others. 

Voices  rude,  coarse  and  harsh  shouted  notes  of 
victory  and  satisfaction.  Some  swore  over  cuts  and 
thrusts  and  bullets.  But  there  was  general  content 
over  the  capture.  The  Countess  was  unhurt  and 
so  was  the  maid.  One  of  the  bandits  took  her 
woman  by  the  arm  and  squeezed  her.  Two  or 
three  of  them  near  laughed  at  something  he  said 
and  she  looked  like  a  rabbit  before  a  serpent.  Then 
she  fell  at  her  mistress's  feet  shaking  like  a  cloth  in 
a  wind. 

The  sun  had  risen  and  the  day  was  already  tough. 
The  thick  forest,  however,  prevented  the  dancing 
of  the  shadows,  and  the  bandits,  who  were  unhurt, 
moved  here  and  there  like  men  who  thoroughly 
understood  their  business.  A  man  in  authority 
ordered  them  about  with  ease  and  a  commendable 
command.  The  dead  were  buried  ;  the  wounded 
were  placed  in  the  carriages. 

The  Countess  looked  at  Gordon  on  the  ground  and 
stroked  his  face  and  then  tried  to  staunch  the  wound 
on  his  head,  and  though  the  sight  of  the  matted  locks 
with  their  dark  red  entwining  was  disturbing  to  her, 
she  leaned  over  him  tenderly  and  tried  to  do  her 
best. 

The  chief  touched  her  on  the  shoulder. 

"  Get  into  the  carriage,"  he  said. 

"  He  is  wounded,"  she  said  with  a  tear  in  her 
voice.      So  wounded.    Will  you  see  to  him  ?  " 

"  You  first,  madam.    To  the  carriage,  please." 

The  tone  was  authoritative.  She  looked  up 
disdainfully,  then  rose. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


6i 


If  you  do  not  attend  to  him,  you  will  suffer  for 
it/'  she  said. 

A  faint  smile — very  faint — stole  for  an  instant 
over  his  face.  Threatened  by  this  tender  woman — 
a  girl  even — and  he  was  not  afraid  of  the  soldiers  of 
the  Empress  !  It  is  one  of  the  commonest  of  offences 
to  exaggerate  our  own  importance  and  under- 
estimate the  power  of  others.  No  wonder  he  had 
an  inclination  to  smile.  He  nodded  to  two  men  and 
pointed  to  the  Countess  and  the  carriage.  He  did 
not  speak.  He  was  evidently  a  man  who  believed 
in  deeds  more  than  words,  and  those  people  always 
do  things  that  count — either  bad  or  good.  It  is 
the  uncertainty  there  that  is  so  unsettling. 

"  How  dare  you  !  "  she  began.  But  she  turned 
to  look  at  Gordon  again,  for  he  had  moved  and 
groaned.  She  had  not  time  to  attend  to  him,  for  the 
two  men  took  her  by  the  arms  and  began  to  drag 
her  towards  the  carriage.  She  looked  proudly  indig- 
nant. She,  who  had  wielded  almost  absolute  power 
over  her  serfs,  felt  this  tremendously.  Her  blood 
rushed  wildly  at  the  insulting  touch.  But  she  could 
find  nothing  to  say  and  merely  looked  fiercely  at  the 
chief  again.  He  seemed  to  be  an  understanding 
man. 

"  Go  easily/'  he  said  quietly  to  her,  showing  no 
emotion. 

She  was  calmed,  perhaps  by  his  calmness  :  emo- 
tions are  as  infectious  as  fevers.  She  looked  assailed 
by  a  bewildering  storm  of  thoughts,  that  somehow 
were  incoherent  and  yet  touched  certain  definite 
pictures  of  apprehension  in  her  mind.  She  was 
buffeted  by  her  own  feelings  now  and  walked  almost 


62  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


willingly  if  unsteadily  towards  the  carriage.  Her 
woman,  whiter  than  herself,  held  her. 

"  What  is  it,  Marie  ?  "  muttered  the  Countess. 

But  Marie  was  too  frightened. 

"  I  do  not  know,  Melania  Nicholovna,"  and  she 
burst  into  tears. 

The  Countess  felt  steadied :  her  woman's  fear 
had  its  effect.  She  clenched  her  hands  lightly  for  a 
moment,  then  crossed  herself  and  prayed — prayed 
not  only  for  a  vague  help,  but  also  for  the  poor  man 
who  was  so  sore  hurt,  Louis  William  Gordon,  Louis 
Alexandrovitch. 

The  chief  of  the  bandits  nodded  and  the  procession 
went  on  its  way,  leaving  precious  little  mark  behind 
of  the  wretched  but  common  tragedy. 

The  reader  need  not  be  surprised  at  this  daring 
of  the  robber  band.  At  that  time — the  reign  of 
the  Empress  Anne — these  bands  were  so  daring  that 
they  resisted  the  regular  troops,  thej^  captured  ships 
on  the  Volga,  and  terrorized  the  people  in  the  places 
where  they  made  a  descent.  Two  or  three  brigands 
had  tortured  a  man  before  the  whole  village,  so 
cowed  were  these  miserable  creatures  when  the 
robbers  appeared.  If  people  are  treated  as  slaves  they 
will  behave  like  them.  It  doesn't  do  to  treat  people 
like  angels,  all  the  same.  Extremes  are  only  for  the 
very  great  or  the  very  little. 

Gordon,  Nickoff  and  Pendeff  were  hors  de  combat. 
They  lay  helpless  and  badly  wounded  in  the  carri- 
ages. The  brigands  who  were  wounded  wrapped 
up  their  wounds,  cursed  their  foes,  and  then  thought 
of  the  spoil.  The  little  lady  looked  to  be  one  who 
had  great  possessions  and  her  person  was  probably 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  63 


a  capture  of  value.  So  there  was  satisfaction  in  the 
camp  of  the  Philistines. 

The  little  lady  was  now  doing  her  best  to  envisage 
the  situation.  A  few  nights  ago  she  was  living  com- 
fortably on  her  estate  with  her  word  law  and  none 
to  gainsay  her  wish.  She  had  suddenly  been  sum- 
moned to  St.  Petersburg,  and  while  on  the  way — 
the  blood  ran  warm  now — she  saw  Louis  William 
Gordon  lying  on  the  ground  with  matted  hair  and  a 
pale  face  .  .  .  What  were  these  men  ?  Into  whose 
hands  had  they  fallen  ?  Were  they  just  robbers  ? 
What  would  they  do  ?    She  was  not  comfortable. 

"  Marie." 

"  Yes,  my  lady." 

"  What  are  these  people  ?  "  She  whispered  it. 
Marie  crossed  herself. 

"  They  are  awful,  my  lady,  awful.    Oh !  I  am 

afraid  " 

"  Awful  what  ?  " 

"  Robbers,"  whispered  the  terrified  maid. 

After  a  pause  the  mistress  said — 

"  Will  they  kiU  us,  or  just  rob  ?  " 

The  maid  who  had  heard  the  jest  of  a  bandit 
hoped  it  would  be  "  just  rob,"  but  she  feared  it  would 
be  more. 

"  I  don't  know,  my  lady,"  she  whimpered. 

"  Don't  cry,  you  goose,"  said  the  Countess,  and 
she  fell  to  thinking  of  Gordon's  poor  face.  Would 
they  kill  him  ?    Was  he  already  dead  ?  .  .  . 

The  procession  went  on  without  stopping,  for 
these  robbers  were  hardy  men  who  could  go  long 
without  food  or  rest  when  need  arose.  They  made 
for  their  lair  in  a  corner  of  the  forest,  where  they 


64  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


had  their  wooden  huts  and  stables,  and  their  women 
waited.  The  bear  and  the  wolf  were  glad  to  leave 
this  little  nook  untroubled  and  human  beings  rarely 
ventured  twice. 

When  the  band  arrived  there  the  women  came 
out  to  welcome  and  mourn.    That  scene  was  com- 
mon in  that  quarter.    The  booty  was  then  collected  • 
by  experienced  hands  and  the  prisoners  were  kept 
in  the  meanwhile  in  their  carriages. 

The  chief  was  joined  by  a  woman  of  fine  figure 
and  healthy  look.  She  was  young,  about  twenty, 
but  appeared  older. 

'*  Good,  Juri  ?  "  she  said. 

"  Yes,  sister." 
Not  hurt  ?  " 

"  No." 

She  turned  away  to  see  to  other  matters. 

The  chief  was  young  too,  not  more  than  twenty- 
four  or  twenty-five,  but  there  was  such  resolution 
in  his  face  that  Age  seemed  to  touch  him  with  no 
carefulness.  He  was  indifferent  to  all,  save  his 
purpose.  The  men  about  were  generally  older, 
though  some  were  younger.  They  were  of  all 
classes,  tchins  and  nobles,  deserters  from  the  army, 
unfrocked  priests,  cossacks,  and  peasants  who  had 
fled  from  brutality  to  brigandage.  There  were  even 
noble  ladies  in  the  colony. 

The  chief,  Juri  Glebof,  called  "  Captain  "  by  his 
followers,  beckoned  one  of  his  men  to  him. 
What  about  the  prisoners  ?  " 

"  The  women  are  unhurt.  Captain  :  the  men  are 
all  unconscious." 

"  Bring  the  women  here." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  65 


The  Countess,  looking  very  much  out  of  place  in 
that  motley  band,  came  proudly  to  the  Captain, 
followed  meekly  by  her  maid. 

Glebof  looked  at  her  critically.  Morals  did  not 
exist  for  most  of  these  men ;  but  happily  Glebof 
was  different.  He  had  a  purpose  in  life,  perhaps  a 
vague  one  and  not  a  nice  one,  but  it  kept  him  from 
wandering  too  much  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left. 

He  was  struck  by  her  fresh,  pure  appearance. 
Few  of  his  captures  had  that. 

"  Your  name,  my  lady  ?  "  he  said  courteously. 

She  hesitated.  Pride  is  very  wilful,  and  can  be 
very  audacious  in  a  pretty  woman. 

II  Why  should  I  tell  you  ?  "  she  said  haughtily. 

"  Because  it  would  be  the  best  thing  for  you  to 
do/'  he  said  coldly,  but  with  such  a  ring  in  his  voice 
that  she  almost  feared.    Marie  trembled. 

The  Countess  looked  at  the  speaker  :  but  her 
violet  eyes  were  not  made  for  bending  others. 

"  I  am  the  Countess  Puroff,"  she  said  quietly, 
with  as  much  dignity  as  any  lady  under  compulsion 
could  have  shown. 

Glebof  bowed. 

"  You  have  doubtless  jewels  with  you  ? 

She  hesitated  a  moment :  but  the  man  spoke  so 
authoritatively  and  looked  so  unbendable  that  she 
said  after  a  pause — 

"  Yes." 

Please  give  them  up  when  asked  for,  without 
my  hesitation.  It  will  be  best.  These  men— are 
:hey  yours  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Friends  ?  " 

B 


66  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  I — I  don't  think  you  should  question  me  about 
them/' 

"  You  need  not,  Countess,  think  why  I  do  things. 
It  is  unnecessary/' 

"  How  dare  you  speak  to  me  Uke  that  ?  "  she 
blazed  out,  and  the  next  instant  saw  the  futihty  of 
the  emotion  and  the  speech.  The  Captain's  piercing 
eyes  and  resolute  expression — he  had  no  need  for 
the  emphasis  which  is  the  trumpet  of  the  weak — 
came  to  her  understanding. 

There  was  a  slight  pause  again  and  it  was  she  who 
showed  defeat. 

"  Friends  ?  "  he  repeated. 

"  I — I  hope  so.  I  have  not  known  them  long. 
They  are  conducting  me  to  St.  Petersburg.  And, 
sir,  will  you  see  they  are  attended  to,  for  they  are 
grievously  hurt." 

Now  her  eyes  were  eloquent  of  feeling  :  this  was 
where  they  shone. 

He  nodded. 

"  You  need  not  be  anxious.  If  they  are  useful  to 
us  they  may  live,  if  not — but  worry  is  not  necessary 
and  we  have  precious  little  of  it." 

He  bowed  slightly,  very  slightly,  as  if  he  were  not 
accustomed  to  appease  people  with  courtesies,  and 
turned  on  his  heel. 

As  he  went  a  man  came  to  him  with  sundry  papers. 
Glebof  took  them  casually  and  seemed  to  read  them 
with  no  interest  till  the  name  of  Stolemkin  caught  his 
attention. 

The  look  that  came  in  his  face  when  he  saw  that 
name  was  fearful  and  wonderful,  ecstatic  and  hate- 
ful.   Columbus  at  the  sight  of  land  might  have 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  67 


shown  something  akin  to  it,  but  there  was  mingled 
with  the  joy  (debasing  it,  of  course)  the  exultation 
of  the  man  who  cries,"  Have  I  found  thee,  O  mine 
enemy !  " 

"  Bring  the  man  to  me/'  he  said,  "  on  whom  this 
paper  was  found." 


CHAPTER  VI 


"  From  stratagem  to  stratagem  we  run." 

— Dryden. 

LEBOF  went  towards  the  hut  which  was  his 


"  Sofia/' 

She  came  at  once  to  the  door  and  he  put  the  paper 
before  her. 

"  Count  Stolemkin  "    She  looked  into  his 

face  with  the  certainty  that  she  should  see  there  the 
reflection  of  the  satisfaction  that  did  not  soothe  but 
exulted  her  spirit. 

He  nodded  and  pressed  his  lips  together. 

"  But  he  isn't  here  ?  "  she  said  a  little  excitedly. 

"  No,  Sofia,  but  we  are  in  the  midst  of  one  of  his 
schemes." 

She  saw  there  was  room  for  rejoicing. 

"  Do  you  know  what  it  is  ?  " 

"  Not  yet.    But  I  have  sent  for  the  man." 
Doesn't  she  know  ?  "    She  nodded  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  hut  occupied  by  Melania  Nicholovna. 

"  The  little  Countess  ?  " 

"  Countess,  eh  ?  " 

'*  Yes,  the  Countess  Puroff.  She  is  no  schemer, 
but  Stolemkin  wants  her." 

"  For  his  son,  perhaps,"  she  said,  with  the  light- 


sister's  and  called — 


68 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


69 


ning-like  guess  of  a  woman  about  a  woman,  which  is 
so  often  right. 

Glebof  smiled  as  if  the  suggestion  pleased  him. 
"  For  his  son  perhaps."  It  was  a  choice  idea  ! 
And  there  was  exquisite  satisfaction  in  the  thought 
that  the  Countess  was  here  if  that  was  Stolemkin's 
plan. 

"  I  think  we  can  do  something  now,  Sofia,"  he 
said. 

"  He  would  not  desire  her  for  nothing.    Is  she 
any  relation  ?  " 
"  I  wUl  ask." 

So  it  happened  that  the  Countess  came  again  to  be 
questioned  by  the  robber  captain  at  the  same  time 
as  Gordon  was  brought  before  him. 

Gordon  was  conscious  now  and  bandaged,  and 
when  he  saw  the  Countess  safe — at  least  from 
wound^he  uttered  a  little  cry  of  thankfulness. 

She  saw  his  expression  and  went  towards  him. 

"  Oh — you  are  wounded  ?  " 

"  Scratched — a  mere  nothing.  But  you,  Melania 
Nicholovna  ?  " 

"  I  am  unhurt.  These  people  only  want  money," 
she  added.  "  They  will  do  you  no  harm  ?  "  she 
asked  anxiously  and  hurriedly. 

"  Some  of  them  don't  look  like  angels  of  mercy, 
do  they  ?    Imagine  that  man  in  " 

His  sentence  was  cut  short  by  another  one. 

"  Separate  them,"  said  Glebof.  "  Bring  the 
woman  here." 

The  order  was  obeyed  with  celerity  and  thorough- 
ness. Glebof  was  clearly  a  man  who  had  the  knack 
of  authority.    He  was  ruthless  when  it  came  to 


70  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


expediency,  and  amongst  robbers  that  type  com- 
mands. 

"  The  woman  first,"  he  said. 

Sofia  had  watched  the  Countess  and  Gordon  with 
a  most  observant  keenness.  The  looks,  the  atti- 
tudes, the  soHcitation  in  each  for  the  other  told  its 
tale.  Sofia,  not  knowing  all,  wondered  what  it 
meant. 

"  Are  you  a  connexion  of  Count  Stolemkin's  ?  " 
Glebof  asked  the  Countess. 

She  looked  surprised. 

"  No.    I  do  not  know  him  at  all." 

The  surprise  came  to  the  other  party  now — at 
hers  as  well  as  at  her  reply. 

"  Why  are  you  going  to  "    Then  he  stopped. 

The  scheme  was  perhaps  more  delicate  than  he 
imagined  and  care  might  be  of  service.  There 
might  be  something  in  the  suggestion  of  his 
sister. 

"  Have  you  ever  met  Count  Stolemkin  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"  No — ^not  that  I  remember." 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?  " 

She  hesitated  and  then  caught  a  look  from  the 
autocrat's  eyes. 

We  were  going  to  St.  Petersburg,"  she  said 
coldly  and  with  just  a  hint  of  irony.  She  did  not 
care  for  Glebof's  commanding  ways. 

"  What  for  ?  " 

*'  I  do  not  know,"  she  said  quickly — almost  too 
quickly,  for  she  wondered  the  next  moment  if  she 
did  wisely  to  tell  that.  People  who  speak  too 
quickly  generally  sow  seeds  of  repentance. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


71 


Glebof  was  not  satisfied.  He  wanted  to  know  all, 
for  that  is  the  basis  of  successful  thwarting.  He 
thought  of  Gordon. 

"  Bring  the  man  here,"  he  said,  and  he  motioned 
his  men  to  take  the  Countess  away. 

Sofia  noticed  that  the  Countess  turned  to  look 
and  smile  encouragingly  at  Gordon  before  she  was 
taken  back  to  her  hut.  The  reward  of  observation 
is  advantage. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  asked  Glebof  of  Gordon. 

Gordon  looked  a  curious  sight  in  his  bandaged 
arm  and  head,  but  his  eyes  were  bright  and  he  was 
rarely  cowed  by  his  enemies.  He  hesitated  and 
then  came  to  the  conclusion  that  his  name  was  of  no 
importance. 

Gordon,  by  the  grace  of  God  !  of  the  Gordons  of 
Abergeldie,  a  place  that  you  are  probably  never 
likely  to  see,  for  if  you  carry  on  this  pretty  career 
much  longer  you  are  very  sure  to  drop  in  Hell 
first  " 

Glebof  waved  his  hand  and  looked  very  stern. 
Do  not  waste  words,"  he  said  with  more  in 
the  suggestiveness  of  the  tone  than  the  mildness 
of  the  words  seemed  to  warrant.    "  Gordon — a 
foreigner  ?  " 

"  Thank  God  !  " 

"  Or  the  devil !  Never  mind.  A  foreigner — 
what  is  your  business  with  Count  Stolemkin  ?  " 

Gordon  looked  at  his  questioner  keenly. 
Precious  small." 

"  Do  you  thank  God  or  the  devil  this  time  ?  " 
Glebof  asked. 

"  Since  you  have  made  it  very  small,  I  suppose  I 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


ought  to  say  the  devil — but  I  don't  thank  him,  sir. 
That  is  all." 

"  You  enjoy  life  ?  "  said  Glebof  a  little  unbending. 

"  When  I  have  it :  don't  you  ?  " 

"  I  enjoy  its  opportunities,"  replied  Glebof  with 
a  little  more  meaning  than  Gordon  liked. 

"  The  devil !  "  he  said,  but  his  eyes  looked  bright 
the  next  instant.  "  Opportunities  for  what,  Cap- 
tain ?  " 

Amongst  other  things,  emptying  people's  pock- 
ets." 

"  What  for  ?    To  fill  your  own  beUy  ?  " 

"  That — also  amongst  other  things.  And  now  I 
want  you  to  tell  me  exactly  what  your  relations  are 
with  Count  Stolemkin  and  why  you  are  taking  that 
lady — the  Countess  Puroff — to  St.  Petersburg." 

"  And  if  I  refuse  ?  " 

"  I  shall  torture  you." 

Gordon  whistled  and  bowed. 

"  I  like  frankness,"  he  said. 

"  I  too,"  said  Glebof. 

They  were  silent  for  a  moment.  Glebof  could 
afford  to  be  quiet :  Gordon  found  it  advantageous. 
They  were  both  men  who  could  make  their  minds 
speak  their  thoughts  clearly  and  act  with  resolution. 

"  Why  shouldn't  I  tell  you  ?  "  said  Gordon. 

Glebof  did  not  speak. 

"  Why  should  I  tell  you  ?  " 

Glebof  did  not  speak,  but  he  looked  at  Gordon 
with  depressing  power. 

Gordon  laughed. 

"  And  again,  why  should  I  not  ?  I  take  the  Coun- 
tess Puroff  to  St.  Petersburg  to  Count  Stolemkin  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  73 


"  WeU  ?  " 

Gordon  hesitated,  for  his  joUity  was  killed  by 
reality.  He  thought  of  the  Countess,  not  as  the 
Countess  Puroff  with  great  possessions,  but  as  a 
woman,  innocent  and  sweet. 

Because  I  am  a  hound,"  he  said  with  a  kind  of 
disgust  in  his  face,  a  hireling,  a  creature  bought 
and  sold,  ready  for  the  highest  offer  and  the  lowest 
work.  Yes,  I  will  tell  you,  Beelzebub,  son  of  Mephis- 
topheles,  for  it  matters  very  little  now  who  knows 
why  " 

He  stopped.  His  repentance  seemed  to  be  carry- 
ing him  too  far.  After  all,  repentance  as  well  as 
being  a  virtue  is  a  reward.  It  gains  happiness  or 
forgiveness  for  us.    Gordon  said  quietly — 

"  By  God  !  it  does  matter." 

"  What  matters  ?  " 

"  If  she  knows  why  I  am  taking  her  to  St.  Peters- 
burg to  Count  Stolemkin." 

"  I  ask,  not  she,"  said  Glebof  quietly,  but  with 
eyes  so  keen  that  they  reflected  a  fire  somewhere. 

"  You  won't  tell  her  ?  "  said  Gordon  quickly. 

"  I  will  use  my  discretion." 

"  Yes,  yes.  And  why  should  you  not  tell  her  ? 
Let  her  know  what  I  am.  What  am  I  to  her  ?  She 
will  probably  prefer  you  to  me.  You  do  rob  and 
attack  like  men.  I — I  get  paid  to  take  her  to  that 
Stolemkin  so  that  he  can  marry  her  to  his  son.  She 

to          Sh ! "    His   voice   sank   to   a  whisper. 

"  Don't  tell  her  yet.    She  must  know,  but  not  yet." 

Glebof  waved  his  hand  to  silence  him. 

"  That  will  do,"  he  said.  "  I  am  glad  you  have 
told  me.    Take  him  back,"  he  said  to  some  of  his 


74 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


men  :  and  as  they  were  going  away  he  added,  See 
he  has  what  he  wants  and  is  comfortable." 

Glebof  turned  and  walked  to  where  his  sister  was 
waiting.  There  was  triumph  in  his  stride  and  joy 
and  exultation,  but  held  down  as  if  he  had  been 
accustomed  to  keep  a  strong  hand  on  his  passions. 

"  Sofia,"  he  said. 

She  came  to  him  quickly,  catching  the  ring  in  his 
voice. 

"  You  were  right,"  he  said.    *'  Stolemkin  wants 
her  to  marry  his  son." 
She  clenched  her  hands. 

"Thank  God!  Thank  God!  Thank  God!" 
she  said. 

"  Now  to  trick  him,"  he  said. 

"  We  have  her,  at  any  rate." 

"  That  isn't  enough." 
But  it  is  something.    She  will  be  rich,  eh  ?  '* 

'*Yes,  she  will  be  rich,  or  Stolemkin  the  Viper 
would  not  want  her  for  his  son." 

"  But  he  shall  not  have  her,"  she  said. 

"  No.  And  that  is  not  enough.  At  any  rate, 
little  sister,  we  are  in  the  middle  of  the  spider's  web 
now,  and  we  ought  to  be  able  to  do  something." 

They  were  both  silent  and  felt  no  need  for  words. 
He  and  she  were  both  thinking  of  the  same  thing — 
how  to  repay  a  debt  of  vengeance  to  Count  Stolem- 
kin. They  had  no  need  of  speech  to  fan  the  flame 
of  their  feeling  :  what  they  wanted  now  was  an  idea 
(a  very  common  want  in  all  times  and  in  all  places). 
They  wished  to  utilize  their  advantage  to  the 
uttermost.  How  could  they  hurt  Count  Stolemkin  ? 
They  could  prevent  the  marriage,  they  could  exact 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  75 


ransom.  .  .  .  But  they  wished  to  hurt,  to  humihate. 
The  humiHation  of  others  is  where  man  shows  his 
superiority  over  the  brute  creation.  From  which  it 
is  clear  that  we  develop  in  all  directions  bad  as  well 
as  good. 

Sofia  sat  down  on  the  stump  of  an  old  tree  that 
had  been  cut  down  to  provide  wood  for  the  hut- 
building.  There  were  many  things  to  impress  on 
her  that  the  weak  must  minister  to  the  strong,  a 
doctrine  she  had  learned  with  tears  and  nursed  with 
bitterness.  Now  she  was  among  the  strong.  The 
finer  people  are  what  they  themselves  think  they 
are :  the  coarser  what  others  think  them. 

Sofia  and  Juri  Glebof,  the  children  of  the  Count 
Stolemkin's  dead  steward,  were  now  themselves  the 
wielders  of  power,  and  the  arbiters  of  life  and  death. 
Juri,  by  his  concentration,  his  fury,  his  courage  in 
fight  as  well  as  by  his  character  and  ability,  was  soon 
made  chief  of  the  band  to  which  he  and  his  sister 
allied  themselves.  Sofia  had  many  temptations,  for 
men  were  passionate  and  daring,  and  some  of  the 
robbers  were  of  noble  blood.  But  Juri  protected 
her,  and  once  he  became  chief  his  sister  was  respected 
for  his  sake  :  subsequently  they  honoured  her  for  her 
own.  She  shirked  nothing  and  shared  all.  She 
was  also,  in  her  way,  well  educated.  When  books 
were  got  she  read  them  :  soldiers  told  her  histories 
of  wars,  priests  discussed  theology  and  philosophy 
with  her,  nobles  told  her  of  the  court  and  travellers 
of  other  lands. 

In  the  meanwhile  men  of  the  order  of  Count 
Stolemkin  suffered,  and  he  fell  into  no  trouble. 
But  if  one  sails  on  one  always  sails  home  at  last. 


76 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Amidst  their  vicissitudes  the  Glebofs  had  remem- 
bered their  father,  flogged  to  death  by  the  order 
of  Count  Stolemkin. 

And  now  they  had  got  hold  of  something  which 
might  allow  them  to  expend  some  of  their  feelings 
in  the  way  they  desired.  The  worst  of  vengeance  is, 
it  does  as  much  damage  to  the  pursuer's  sorJ  as  it 
does  to  the  body  of  the  victim.  But  that  is  by  the 
way. 

Juri  Glebof  turned  aside  to  think.  As  a  rule  he 
made  excellent  use  of  his  opportunities,  and  that 
kind  of  man  makes  his  mark.  The  greatest  men,  of 
course,  make  their  opportunities.  The  majority 
of  his  men  were  now  eating  and  drinking  and  making 
merry  over  the  captures  of  the  day.  They  sang 
songs  and  told  tales  and  drank  wine,  beer  and 
brandy. 

Glebof,  dressed  in  long  top-boots,  a  long  coat 
buckled  at  the  waist  and  a  round  fur  hat,  went  back 
towards  his  sister. 

"  Well,  Sofia,  have  you  thought  of  anything  ?  " 

*'  What  does  the  man  say  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Gordon  is  his  name — a  foreigner.  He  was 
merely  conducting  her  to  St.  Petersburg." 

"  Ah  ! — He  would  like  to  marry  her  himself,  I 
fancy." 

"  That  is  an  idea." 

"  It  would  not  please  Stolemkin.'* 

He  looked  as  if  the  idea  pleased  him. 

"  That  will  do,  Sofia.  And  we  could  get  our  share 
of  the  Countess's  wealth,  too,  for  the  privilege." 

'*  I  think  she  would  like  it,  too.  I  wonder  if  she 
cares  for  Stolemkin's  son  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  She  has  never  met  Stolemkin — does  not  know 
him." 

"Does  she  know  why  she  goes  to  St.  Peters- 
burg?" 

"  No.  Stolemkin  has  sent  this  man  Gordon  to 
fetch  her,  and  seemingly  will  wed  her  to  his  son  when 
he  gets  possession  of  her." 

"  Juri  " 

She  stood  up." 

"  If  she  has  not  seen  the  Stolemkin,  nor  he  her, 
and  they  do  not  know  each  other  " 

"  The  devil,  Sofia — any  cat  from  the  mouth  of 
Hell  would  do,"  he  said  swiftly,  catching  her  sugges- 
tion madly.  "  Any  of  these  she-devils  round  here 
packed  to  St.  Petersburg  as  the  Countess  What's- 
her-name  would  be  received  by  the  villain  as  well  as 
the  real  thing,  and — phew  !  be  married  to  his  son — 
to  Count  Stolemkin's  son." 

They  looked  at  each  other. 

"  If  it  can  be  done,"  he  whispered. 

"  If  it  can  be  done,"  she  repeated.  "  He  must 
be  deceived — Juri — a  big  marriage  in  the  capital 
with  all  St.  Petersburg  there,  and  the  Count  Stolem- 
kin's  son  marries  "    She  laughed. 

"  And  afterwards,  when  the  news  gets  out  and  all 
St.  Petersburg  sees  what  a  fool  the  Count  Stolemkin 
has  been  " 

"It  is  worth  it,"  she  said. 

"  I  would  let  all  this  woman's  treasure  go  to  do 
it,"  he  said. 

"  What  is  treasure  to  that  ?  " 

"  Aye  !  aye  !  " 

They  were  silent  again,  conning  the  suggestion. 


78  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


getting  ahead  of  it  and  seeing  what  they  wanted : 
the  humihation  and  rage  of  Count  Stolemkin. 

"  I  will  have  this  foreigner  here  again  and  discover 
all  he  knows." 

"  Yes.  What  the  son  of  the  Count  is  like  and — 
and  " 

"  Can  you  think  of  any  one  who  could  be  trusted 
to  go  to  St.  Petersburg  as  this  little  Countess  ?  " 

*'  I  think  so.  I  have  some  one  in  my  mind.  But 
send  for  the  foreigner  first." 

So  Gordon  was  sent  for  again,  and  came  wonder- 
ing at  the  frequent  catechizing.  He  was  struck  with 
the  force  of  the  young  leader  and  the  compact  youth 
of  the  girl.  Their  heads  seemed  much  older  than 
their  bodies  :  but  that  is  the  stamp  of  the  observant 
and  those  who  remember. 

Gordon  could  not  tell  them  overmuch.  He  spoke 
freely  of  Stolemkin  and  confessed  he  did  not  know 
the  son.  He  thought  the  Count  mighty  eager  to  get 
hold  of  the  Countess.  By  this  time  he  was  disgusted 
with  his  mission.  Not  on  account  of  this  seeming 
failure — that  would  have  nerved  him  to  success — 
but  for  other  reasons,  which  the  reader  has  already 
noted. 

Sofia  was  right.  Gordon  felt  very  much  battered 
in  soul  and  body  :  but  after  his  conversation  with 
the  Glebof s  he  felt  better — in  soul,  at  any  rate.  He 
almost  rejoiced  he  had  been  thwarted  in  his  attempt 
to  take  the  Countess  to  St.  Petersburg  to  be  married 
to  Stolemkin's  son. 

Melania  Nicholovna  

But  he  wasn't  quite  sure  that  he  ought  to  rejoice  : 
perhaps  she  would  be  better  the  wife  of  Stolemkin 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  79 


than — than — ^phew  !  in  the  hands  of  these  bandits  ! 
Food  for  reflection  there. 

Thank  God  !  the  chief — what  a  young  piece  of 
steel  he  was  ! — had  no  nonsense  about  him.  Might 
be  an  old  Puritan  Ironside  reincarnated  !  But  the 
others !  What  a  lot !  The  scum  of  a  battlefield 
with  all  the  vices  of  war. 

There  would  not  be  much  peace  of  mind  for  Louis 
William  Gordon  till  the  Countess  Puroff  was  out  of 
contact  with  these  robbers. 

"  You  had  better  see  the  Countess  now,  Juri," 
said  Sofia,  when  Gordon  had  been  reconducted  to  his 
quarters. 

So  Melania  Nicholovna  was  brought  forth  once 
more  to  understand  how  power  is  a  matter  of  geo- 
graphy. A  few  versts  away — comparatively  speak- 
ing— she  was  all-powerful.  Here  in  this  forest,  with 
the  pine  lifting  their  straight  limbs  towards  the  sky, 
with  the  birch  hinting  at  all  kinds  of  pleasant  things 
with  their  silver  coats,  with  the  mossy  carpet  under- 
foot, and  roystering  sounds  from  thick  throats,  she 
was  of  no  account.  A  mere  pawn  in  the  hands  of 
players.  The  autocrat  has  lost  power  through  the 
decrease  of  distance.  When  Russia  has  as  many 
railways  to  the  square  mile  as  England  the  Tsar  will 
have  no  more  power  than  the  most  constitutional 
monarch  in  Europe. 

Sofia  looked  keenly  at  the  Countess  as  Juri  ques- 
tioned her,  and  was  struck  by  her  choiceness.  She 
was  worth  marrying — yet  Stolemkin  had  not  seen  her. 

"  Have  you  ever  seen  Count  Stolemkin's  son  ?  " 
Glebof  asked  her. 

"  No ;  why  do  you  ask  ?  " 


8o  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  And  you  do  not  know  why  you  are  going  to  St. 
Petersburg — to  Count  Stolemkin  ?  " 

"  To  Count  Stolemkin  ?  "  she  repeated. 

"  Can  you  not  guess  ?  "  said  Sofia  very  quetly. 

The  Countess  turned  to  look  at  her.  They  were 
all  watching  each  other  closely,  trying  to  see  behind 
the  veil. 

"  He  has  a  son,"  said  Glebof. 

Either  she  would  not  or  did  not  understand  at 
first :  but  then  she  paled. 

"  A  son — oh,  no  !  "  The  cry  was  involuntary. 
"  I  do  not  know  him.  And  Louis  Alexandrovitch — 
but  he  would  not  do  that''  She  looked  at  Glebof 
with  a  pain-struck  face. 

He  said  nothing. 

Sofia,  brown-eyed,  calm,  strong  and  penetrating, 
spoke  quietly. 

"  Are  you  rich  ?  " 

The  Countess  paused.  The  remark  was  less  a 
question  than  a  hint,  a  key  to  the  puzzle. 

I  have  estates,''  said  Melania  Nicholovna  almost 
sorrowfully. 

"  And  serfs  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  thirty  thousand." 

"  The  villain,  Count  Stolemkin — ^he  is  a  black 
villain,"  said  Sofia,  "  would  marry  his  son  to  your 
estates  and  your  thirty  thousand  serfs." 

Melania  Nicholovna  looked  like  a  rudderless  ship  in 
the  storm.  Then  her  pride  came  to  her  rescue  and 
she  looked  stiff er,  as  one  accustomed  to  be  consulted. 

"  He  dare  not,"  she  said,  and  her  face  was  white. 
The  German,  Biren,  would  make  you  if  Stolem- 
kin a  ked  him,"  said  Glebof. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


8i 


She  was  readily  accessible  to  facts.    Pride  and 
fear  ran  through  her  hke  currents  in  a  deep  sea. 
"  Help  me  !  "  she  said. 

Glebof  pressed  his  lips  tightly  :  his  business  was 
rather  destruction  than  succour. 

But  Sofia  touched  her  kindly. 

"  We  hate  that  Stolemkin,"  she  said,  and  the 
Countess  knew  at  once  that  she  might  hope  for 
sympathy  in  that  quarter.  "  You  shall  never  marry 
his  son." 

"  Thank  God  !  and  thank  you  !  " 

When  Glebof  asked  his  sister  later  in  the  day  whom 
they  should  send  to  St.  Petersburg  as  the  Countess 
Puroff,  she  rephed:  "  I  will  tell  you  to-morrow." 


r 


CHAPTER  VII 


"  I  have  set  my  life  upon  a  cast. 
And  I  will  stand  the  hazard  of  the  die.'* 

— Richard  III. 


A  A  mother  with  her  first-born  could  scarcely 
have  been  more  glad.  An  idea  to  tease,  torment, 
humiliate  Count  Stolemkin  was  one  to  command 
almost  whole-hearted  attention  from  Glebof  and 
his  sister. 

Marrying  Count  Stolemkin's  son,  to  whom  ? 
Glebof  thought  of  the  women  in  his  company. 
They  were  a  garish  lot.  Most  were  impossible,  of 
course,  for  age  is  inexorable.  Some,  with  all  the 
qualifications  of  vice  and  ugliness,  lacked  ability 
to  play  the  role.  It  was  difficult  the  more  one 
thinks  of  it,  for  the  choice  was  restricted  to  women 
of  casual  morals  living  with  robbers  !  What  a 
choice  for  the  ambitious  Stolemkin  !  And  what 
gratification  for  his  friends !  The  Count's  son 
married  to  an  impossibility,  who  was  deemed  to  be 
the  wealthy  Countess  Puroff !  St.  Petersburg  and 
Moscow  would  not  hold  the  laughter,  and  what 
would  Stolemkin's  wrath  be  like  ? 

In  the  meanwhile,  of  course.  Count  Stolemkin 


cherished  the  idea  with  delight. 


83 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


83 


was  waiting  with  great  hope  and  confidence  in  the 
capital  for  the  arrival  of  Gordon. 

And  Glebof  was  feeling  more  and  more  content. 
He  had  tried  to  find  a  fitting  mate  for  Stolemkin's 
son,  but  had  shaken  his  head  over  almost  all  the 
women  of  his  company.  A,  B,  C — ugh  !  They 
were  very  desirable  from  his  point  of  view,  but  they 
would  not  impose  on  Stolemkin.  At  least,  Glebof 
thought  the  risk  too  great,  and  he  was  accustomed 
to  risk  a  great  deal.  This,  of  course,  was  differ- 
ent, for  failure  would  be  bitter  and  success  a  thing 
ecstatic. 

He  had  risen  early,  and  the  sun's  early  rays  had 
filtered  through  the  tracery  of  the  forest  with  deli- 
cate persistency.  The  sentries  of  the  camp  were 
at  their  post  keeping  watch  against  man  and  beast. 
The  others  slept ;  most  of  them  the  sleep  of  the 
drunken,  for  the  age  of  brass  was  succeeded  by  that 
of  beer  and  brandy.  When  we  reach  the  abstemious 
age,  beware ! 

Sofia  was  also  about  early.  Although  only  about 
twenty  years  of  age,  she  looked  older.  If  iron  enters 
the  soul  young  the  face  reflects  the  hardness.  Yet 
Sofia  Glebof  was  attractive  as  a  woman.  She  was 
well  formed,  healthy-looking,  and  a  little  too  capable 
for  a  man  about  the  average.  He  would  never 
know  what  to  make  of  her,  and  probably  in  despair 

curse  her  and  say,  "  These  women  "  with  a 

cluck  of  the  tongue  and  a  waggle  of  the  head.  A 
clever  man  would  understand  and  a  fool — the  kind 
i  that  possesses  wisdom — would  follow  her. 
j      She  had  straight  well-defined  eyebrows  and  her 
I  nose  held  up  her  forehead  and  had  a  good  wide 


84  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


bridge.  She  certainly  possessed  a  nose,  but  short, 
squat  noses  were  (and  are)  common  in  Russia.  So 
it  was  no  offence.  Her  eyes,  brown  and  blue  and 
green — quite  varied-hued,  were  changeful  and  lumin- 
ous. They  were  set  well  under  her  eyebrows  and 
had  the  sparkle  of  precious  diamonds,  the  depths  of 
rivers,  and  the  reflection  of  mirrors.  Her  mouth 
was  not  tiny,  but  it  was  as  clear-cut  as  a  cameo, 
and  she  had  a  chin  full  of  warning  to  the  discerning. 
The  dull,  of  course,  would  not  notice  it. 

Juri  was  her  brother  in  appearance  as  well  as  in 
reality,  and  he  added  to  a  fire  and  daring  a  prudence 
and  self-control  that  were  remarkable  in  one  so 
tutored  and  so  young. 

Well,''  he  said  to  his  sister,  "  I  have  been  think- 
ing of  the  one  to  go  to  the  villain,  but  I  cannot  find 
her." 

"  I  too,"  she  said. 

"  It  is  difficult.  These  women  are  not  much  good 
— except  to  breed." 

"  And  bad  for  that,"  she  said.  "  Some  of  them 
are  worth  no  more  than  clothes  and  less  than  a 
horse." 

"  And  yet  we  must  choose  one  of  them." 
"  You  could  not  think  which  ?  " 
"  I  thought  of  the  Palinofi[." 
She  shook  her  head. 

"  She  would  get  drunk  and  tell  all,"  Sofia  said. 
"  I  pictured  her  at  that." 

"  Yes,  there  is  only  one  woman  here  who  can 
go." 

"  And  that  is  ?  " 
"  Myself." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


85 


Glebof  looked  at  his  sister.  This  was  certainly 
out  of  his  reckoning,  for  marriage  was  a  thing  pre- 
cious as  rubies  for  a  woman — so  he  thought — and 
there  could  be  little  gratification  in  prospect  for 
Sofia  Glebof  married  to  the  son  of  Count  Stolemkin 
after  a  piece  of  daring  imposture. 

"  You !  "  Everybody  will  easily  understand 
exactly  how  it  was  said. 

Sofia,  being  human  and  a  woman,  enjoyed  the 
note  of  surprise,  but  she  did  not  dwell  on  it,  for  she 
was  really  a  person  above  the  average. 

Yes,"  she  said  quickly.    "  Nobody  else  can 

do." 

He  knew  that  was  true,  for  the  drabs  about  the 
camp  were  incapable  of  the  delicate  role  a  spurious 
Countess  would  have  to  play  in  St.  Petersburg. 
No.    But,  Sofia— you  dare  ?  " 

It  was  half  a  compliment  and  half  a  doubt.  She 
was  sensible,  feminine  and  egotistic,  and  took  it 
wholly  as  a  compliment. 
Yes." 

"  There  are  risks." 

"  I  will  run  them." 

"  And  will  you  marry  the  man  ?  " 

She  nodded. 

He  took  her  by  the  arms. 

Sofia,  that  is  for  life,  perhaps  

She  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

Or  for  a  ceremony,"  she  said. 
He  stared  and  wondered  at  her  decision. 
"  You  have  thought  it  all  out — what  it  will 
mean  ?  " 

"  We  both  know  what  it  will  mean,  Juri." 


86  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Yes,  to  him.    But  to  you  ?  Married — what 
will  you  do  ?  " 
"  Leave  him." 
He  thought  a  moment. 

Yes — yes.    But  then,  you  cannot  marry  again." 
She  shook  her  head. 

"  Swine  !"  she  said  with  a  wave  of  her  hand 
towards  the  sleeping  wives  and  others — married. 
I  do  not  want  a  husband,  Juri." 

"  You  may — there  are  better  men  than  these." 
He  was,  one  observes,  piqued  a  little  in  his  sex. 
Husbands  should  not  be  treated  with  disdain  and 
the  capture  of  one  with  contempt.  The  prejudices 
of  sex  will  be  overcome  when  the  millennium  arrives, 
not  before. 

She  shuddered.  A  man  may  regard  marriage  as 
folly,  but  not  with  disgust :  with  the  woman  it  is 
the  other  way  about. 

Fortunately  he  was  quick  to  observe  :  though  he 
was  disappointed. 

"  Sofia,"  he  said,  "  this  is  what  I  did  not  expect. 
You  must  not  run  the  risk  unless  you  think  you  can 
escape  safely." 

'*  No  one  else  can  do  it,"  she  said.  "  I  can.  And 
I  will,  Juri." 

He  was  too  surprised  to  say  more  for  the  moment 
than :  "  Let  me  think  it  over." 

He  walked  away  from  her  along  a  line  of  oak 
trees  which  sheltered  his  camp,  and  when  he  came 
back  saw  his  sister  where  he  had  left  her.  That 
perhaps  was  a  hint  of  her  character  :  when  she  made 
up  her  mind  she  was  not  easily  moved. 
(  Brother  and  sister  had  gone  together  through 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  87 


days  and  nights  of  trials  and  troubles,  and  each 
knew  the  other's  worth.  Robbery  like  soldiery  was 
a  fair  enough  calling  in  Russia  in  those  days  :  in 
fact,  there  was  little  to  choose  between  them  except 
on  the  ground  of  thoroughness  and  extent,  in  which 
the  soldiers  were  easily  first. 

But  a  man  will  think  he  is  looking  after  a  woman, 
while  -all  the  time  she  feels  she  is  mothering 
him. 

"  I  don't  like  to  let  you  go,  Sofia." 

"  What  is  there  to  fear  ?  " 

"  If  you  are  detected  " 

"  Why  should  I  be  ?  Count  Stolemkin  does  not 
know  the  Countess,  nor  me.  I  will  go  with  her 
dresses,  her  maid,  and  she  will  tell  me  all  I  need 
know." 

Her  maid — if  she  should  betray  you  ?  " 
"  I  will  shoot  her."    She  spoke  calmly.    "  But 
she  will  be  sensible,  not  for  my  sake,  but  for  her 
mistress's.    The  Countess  will  stay  here  till  I  come 
back." 

"  Yes,  yes,  Sofia.  I  will  keep  her  till  you  return. 
She  shall  be  a  hostage  for  you.  And  this  foreigner, 
Gordon,  he  must  take  you.  It  seems  that  we  shall 
have  to  trust  to  many." 

"  Yes,  to  two — him  and  the  woman.  But  the 
Countess  will  make  them  discreet.  Particularly 
the  man.  He,  I  think,  will  be  very  glad  that  the 
Countess  will  not  marry  Stolemkin's  son." 

Juri  watched  her.  He  was  still  cherishing  the 
idea  that  Sofia  herself  was  going  to  St.  Petersburg, 
to  meet  Count  Stolemkin,  and  perhaps  a  great  many 
other  Counts  and  influential  people,  to  marry  his 


88  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


son  and  be  the  observed  of  dozens  of  critical  eyes. 
It  was  a  risk. 

"  I  wish  I  were  going  instead  of  you,  Sofia,"  he 
said. 

If  you  were  going  I  should  have  a  wish  like 
that,"  she  retorted.    "  And  your  turn  will  come." 

Perhaps — perhaps.  After  this,  I  shall  not  ask 
Jor  much." 

"  This  wiU  be  something,"  she  said. 

"  All  St.  Petersburg  will  watch  you — perhaps 
even  the  Empress — and  Biren." 

"  So  much  the  better,"  she  said  quietly. 

"  We  shall  make  fools  of  a  great  many,"  he  said. 

"  A  great  many  deserve  it,  and  most  of  them  will 
howl  at  the  Stolemkin.  They  will  rejoice  over  his 
humiliation.  They  will  even  be  ready  to  forgive — 
perhaps  reward  me  for  it." 

"  You  will  escape  at  once  after  the  ceremony  ?  " 

"  We  may  go  for  a  honeymoon  to  one  of — my 
estates,"  she  said  roguishly,  "  and  on  the  way  you 
could  meet  us,  Juri  " 

He  was  as  near  to  smiling  as  a  desperate,  idea- 
dominated  man  of  twenty-five  could  be. 

I  will  meet  you — and  your  husband,"  he  said — 
as  if  the  only  part  reserved  to  him  to  be  played  would 
be  performed  without  a  hitch  and  without  reproach. 

"  Will  you  tell  the  Countess,  Juri  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Yes." 

She  turned  away  without  further  ado.  She  and 
her  brother  were  linked  by  more  than  a  common 
parentage — they  had  common  perils  endured,  com- 
mon triumphs  enjoyed,  and  an  idea  that  burned  in 
them  both.    They  knew  each  other's  wishes  well. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


89 


In  this  camp  the  huts  were  made  of  wood  cut 
almost  entirely  by  the  axe.  Sofia  had  her  own  abode, 
and  no  one  ever  molested  her.  She  had  a  position 
respected  and  unquestioned,  and  she  rarely  inter- 
fered with  the  followers  of  her  brother  or  joined  in 
their  carousings — hence  her  title  of  Saint  Sofia. 
But  she  was  not  a  saint,  except  on  the  theory  that 
various  kinds  of  saints  must  people  the  earth. 

The  Countess  had  been  hard  hit  by  the  news  of 
Stolemkin's  plan.  It  blasted  the  joyous  romance 
that  had  stimulated  her  to  glorious  fancy  at  certain 
moments  and  wrecked  her  trust  in  joy.  To  be 
married  like  that !  Ordered  to  come  to  St.  Peters- 
burg to  take  a  husband,  or  rather  (much  rather)  be 
taken  for  a  wife  by  a  man  before  she  could  even 
hesitate  !  It  was  a  cruel  humiliation  !  And  yet  it 
was  common.  She  knew  a  number  of  wives  who 
had  been  married  by  order.  Even  Prince  Galitsuin 
had  been  forced  to  marry  a  Kalmink  girl  of  common 
birth.  The  Empress  Anna  had  ordered  it  and  there 
was  no  hesitation  :  there  was  the  ice  palace,  too, 
built  for  this  odd  couple,  in  which  they  spent  the 
first  night  of  their  married  life.  Where  there  is 
power  unlimited  there  is  folly  immeasurable. 

But  the  Countess,  humiliated  and  struck  as  she 
was  by  the  fate  that  had  been  destined  her,  was  in- 
clined, after  a  night's  reflection,  to  find  comfort 
in  her  situation.  Her  capture  by  these  robbers 
might  turn  out  to  her  advantage.  There  was  hope 
that  she  would  escape  this  projected  marriage,  and 
if  so — well,  when  romance  came  peeping  in  with  the 
rising  sun,  Cupid  got  on  the  table.  In  fact,  Countess 
Puroff,  being  young  and  of  a  pleasant  disposition. 


go 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


was  fast  becoming  an  excellent  optimist,  and  believ- 
ing that  all  was  turning  out  for  the  best  in  this  best 
of  all  possible  worlds.  It  is  a  capital  outlook,  good 
for  the  liver,  the  digestion,  the  expression  and  life 
generally,  only  one  wants  a  certain  amount  of 
philosophy,  tolerance  and  blindness  to  keep  up  to 
the  mark. 

Glebof,  who  did  not  let  the  grass  grow  imder  his 
feet,  had  an  interview  with  the  Countess  again  early 
in  the  morning.  He  wanted  to  see  that  he  quite 
understood  the  case  and  could  build  on  a  sure  found- 
ation— the  elementary  proceeding  of  all  sound  archi- 
tects. 

He  wasted  little  time  in  preliminaries.  He  wanted 
her  to  tell  him  exactly  what  had  happened  from  the 
time  Gordon  had  called  on  her  to  her  capture. 

She  spoke  frankly  and  found  herself  boggling 
over  the  part  played  by  Louis  Alexandrovitch. 
She  began  to  realize  the  truth  at  last,  though  she 
would  not  believe  it  tiU  Glebof  told  her. 

"  Louis  Alexandrovitch — did  he  know  ?  "  she 
asked,  and  he  saw  her  anxiety,  but  had  no  desire  to 
alleviate  it.  He  bore  things  and  was  not  accus- 
tomed to  delicacies  and  hints. 

"  Yes.  He  knew  he  was  taking  you  to  your 
husband." 

Now  she  went  white.  She  suffered  now.  She 
clasped  her  hands  tightly  and  her  eyes,  just  covered 
with  a  gentle  mist,  hid  the  full  measmre  of  the  storm 
that  raged  within  her.  The  other  blow  was  a  thing 
impersonal,  a  kind  of  result  of  forces  ;  but  this  was 
different.  Louis  Alexandrovitch  was  one  who  had 
appeared  to  her  to  be  a  courtly,  gallant  gentleman 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  91 


with  just  the  qualities  and  graces  to  please  a  woman. 
She  had  met  him,  taken  salt  with  him,  drank  wine 
and  eaten  bread  with  him.  And  he  seemingly  had 
tricked  her. 

He  had  gaily  taken  her  from  her  home  with  the 
intention  of  handing  her  to  Count  Stolemkin  as  a 
wife  for  his  son.    That  was  infamous  !    It  degraded. 

In  her  anger  she  saved  herself  from  tears.  She 
tried  to  put  from  her  the  image  of  Gordon,  the  figure 
of  the  gallant  who  called  on  her,  and  the  brave  man 
who  fought  for  her  and  was  wounded  for  her.  .  .  . 
This  picture  softened  her.  She  was  not  quite  so 
sure  of  herself  now.    He  had  fought  nobly.  .  .  . 

Glebof  watched  her  as  if  she  were  telling  him  all 
the  truth  of  the  business. 

She  felt  the  need  for  action,  words — something, 
and  said  warmly,  I  will  not  go,"  with  a  fine  figure 
of  pride,  showing  disdain  of  consequence.  It  was 
as  if  she  said, You  can  take  me  to  the  altar,  but  you 
can't  make  me  say  '  I  will.'  " 

Her  attitude  amused  Glebof,  who  was  accustomed 
to  defiance  and  generally  broke  it,  or  rendered 
it  nevermore  possible  in  the  defiant  person.  And 
though  he  was  by  nature  a  direct  man  he  had  his 
subtle  moments. 

"  I  could  take  you  to  St.  Petersburg  though,  if  I 
wished,"  he  said,  "  and  put  you  in  the  arms  of  Count 
Stolemkin — if  I  wished." 

She  tried  to  look  indifferent  to  threats — and  prob- 
ably managed  it  successfully  for  a  moment — but  the 
swift  consideration  of  the  power  of  this  man  who 
had  taken  her  prisoner  was  sufiicient  to  induce  her 
to  follow  tact  rather  than  fling  defiance. 


92  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Possibly/'  she  said  very  quietly,  indicating  that 
if  the  flag  had  to  be  lowered,  it  would  be  done  with- 
out undue  humiliation. 

Certainly,"  he  corrected.  But  it  may  please 
me,  Countess,  to  please  you." 

"  I  do  not  want  to  marry  this  Count  Stolemkin's 
son,"  she  said  quietly,    for  I  do  not  know  him." 

"  I  do  not  wish  that  you  should.  But  you  must 
help  me." 

To  escape  this  marriage  ?  "    She  spoke  gladly. 
"  Yes." 

"  That  I  will  do  willingly." 

"  It  is  well  said.  Some  one  must  go.  It  would 
not  do  for  Count  Stolemkin  to  be  disappointed,  and 
so — my  sister  will  take  your  place." 

Surprise  flatters  us,  makes  us  think  we  have 
achieved  something,  else  why  does  it  give  us  such 
pleasure  ?  Those  who  cannot  keep  secrets  are 
folks  very  susceptible  to  flattery  as  a  rule,  over-fond 
of  adulation.  Glebof  was  too  earnest  for  triviali- 
ties even  at  twenty-five,  so  the  Countess's  fine 
surprise  was  no  oblation  to  him. 

It  was  something  startling,  nevertheless.  "  You 
need  not  go  to  be  married  :  I  will  send  some  one  in 
your  place  !  "  Told  almost  casually  too  !  It  was 
almost  uncanny. 

"  Your  sister  will  go  in  my  place  ?  "  she  said. 

It  needed  a  little  digestion,  as  one  sees. 

"  Yes,  my  sister.  Nobody  else  will  do.  Some- 
body must  go  to  delude  Count  Stolemkin,  you  under- 
stand. He  must  think  the  person  who  goes  to 
St.  Petersburg  to  marry  his  son  is  the  Countess 
Puroff — you  understand  that  also  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  93 


"  Oh  !  but  "  They  came  like  the  move- 
ments of  a  mind  not  accustomed  to  deeds  of  this 
kind. 

Glebof  continued — 

"  So  my  sister  will  go.  We  can,  unfortunately, 
trust  nobody  else.  You  will  therefore  give  her  all 
the  information  you  can  concerning  yourself  and 
your  family." 

The  Countess  was  too  astonished  to  make  protest 
or  comment.  It  was  the  situation  in  which  a  per- 
son says  :  "I  was  so  surprised  I  could  not  utter  a 
word  " ;  or,  ''It  was  the  strangest  thing  that  ever 
happened." 

Glebof  took  it  so  calmly,  he  might  have  been 
arranging  different  wives  for  unsuspecting  hus- 
bands for  a  long  time. 

"  There  is  my  sister,"  he  said.  "  You  had  better 
go  and  talk  to  her." 


CHAPTER  VIII 


•'Facilis  descensus  Avemo  est." 

— Virgil. 

THE  Countess  having  well  digested  the  idea 
became  at  one  moment  mutinous  (on  grounds 
of  principle)  and  then  perfectly  resigned  (on  grounds 
of  expediency). 

Sofia  converted  her  quietly.  She  explained  rather 
than  argued.  The  Countess  wished  to  know  the 
reason  of  this  plotting,  and  Sofia,  not  minding  -A^ho 
knew  the  motive,  told.  So  the  conversation  took 
a  peculiar  turn.  At  one  instant  the  Countess 
would  explain  that  her  father's  friends  were  So-and- 
so  and  So-and-so,  that  he  had  been  here  and  there 
and  done  such  and  such  things,  and  at  the  next  she 
would  clasp  her  hands  in  amazement  that  these 
things  should  be,  pray  to  the  saints  to  protect  her, 
and  ask  Sofia  what  it  felt  like  going  to  be  married 
— ^like  that.    Very  mixed  ! 

Sofia  kept  repeating  phrases,  expressions,  names, 
et  cetera,  so  that  she  would  be  well  armed  with  know- 
ledge when  she  reached  St.  Petersburg.  She  did 
not  explain  how  she  felt  at  the  prospect  of  marriage 
— the  contemplation  of  the  episode  did  not  move 
her. 

But  the  Countess  was  more  a  woman  than  when 

94 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


95 


she  set  out.  Destined  for  marriage  with  a  man  she 
had  never  seen,  taken  by  a  man  whom  she  was 
beginning  to  regard  with  a  deep  interest,  captured 
by  brigands,  and  now  assisting  at  a  gigantic  impos- 
ture !  She  knew  the  risk  she  ran,  but  the  Glebof s — 
brother  and  sister — calmly  said  that  worse  things 
would  befall  her  unless  she  consented.  And  the 
force  of  a  future  storm  is  less  than  the  attraction 
of  a  present  harbour.  Her  own  future  was  vague 
and  very  uncertain,  but  at  present  her  life  was  not 
sorrowful. 

She  tried  to  keep  Gordon  from  her  thoughts,  but 
could  not  succeed,  and  one  day  said  to  Sofia — 
"  Who  will  take  you,  Sofia  Petrovna  ?  " 
"  The  foreigner — Gordon.'' 
"  He  knows  ?  " 

"  Yes.    My  brother  has  told  him." 

"  And  he  will  ?  " 

A  pause,  then  :  "  Certainly." 

"  But  he — ^he  knows  who   you  are.    Will  he 
say  you  are  the  Countess  Puroff  ?  " 
Of  course." 

"  Oh  !  .  .       The  Countess  was  disturbed. 

"  He  must,  Melania  Nicholovna,"  said  Sofia. 
"If  he  does  not,  somebody  else  wiU  and  he  will 
die." 

"  Oh  ! " 

"  You  would  not  like  him  to  die  ?  " 
"  I — I  would  not  like  anybody  to  die,"  she  said 
tenderly. 

"  I  thought  not.  So  it  is  much  better  that  he 
live  and  go  to  St.  Petersburg  than  die  and  go  to 
Purgatory." 


96  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


The  Countess  quite  agreed  in  that. 

The  train  being  laid,  Sofia  being  possessed  of 
almost  all  the  Puroff  knowledge  available,  all 
that  now  remained  was  to  decide  on  the  escort  for 
the  journey.  Gordon  was  recovered  and  indispens- 
able— ^being  available.  Nobody  is  really  indispens- 
able :  that  is  how  we  crow  over  Death.  At  first 
Glebof  thought  he  might  let  Nickoff  and  Pendeff  go 
as  Gordon  pleaded  for  them,  but  there  was  too 
much  risk.  They  were  not  asked  if  they  would 
connive  in  the  imposture,  for  Glebof's  refusal  to  let 
them  go  made  that  a  superfluity. 

Gordon  asked  to  be  allowed  to  see  the  Countess 
before  leaving  and  Glebof  consented. 

The  Countess,  however,  at  first  refused.  She 
was  much  disturbed  in  spirit  over  Gordon,  and  when 
she  declared  she  would  not  see  him,  knew  that  she 
longed  to  meet  him.  But  pride  somehow  ordered 
her  tongue.  It  is  tantalizing  when  the  emotions 
get  hold  of  us  at  the  time  we  desire  to  act  accord- 
ing to  the  dictates  of  our  reason.  Sensation  is 
stronger  than  judgment :  that  is  why  women  are 
not  the  best  judges.  It  was  Sofia  who  said  that 
Gordon  desired  the  interview,  and  Melania  Nicholov- 
na's  No  "  was  such  a  weak  thing  that  Sofia,  under- 
standing, said — 

"  I  will  send  him.    Will  you  see  him  here  ?  " 

Melania  Nicholovna  paused  (while  there  was  a 
slight  tussle  between  pride  and  feeling)  and  then 
said  meekly,  Here." 

So  Gordon  came  and  the  Countess  imagined  it 
her  bounden  duty  to  assume  an  attitude  of  indiffer- 
ence. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


But  Gordon  did  not  come  with  the  air  of  a  con- 
queror, in  the  style  of  one  who  woos  by  winning, 
in  the  majesty  of  a  master.  His  wound  was  healed, 
but  his  face  was  pale  and  his  heart  was  tremulous. 
This  girl  with  the  violet  eyes  and  the  soul  of  some- 
thing so  different  from  the  accustomed  army  bent 
Gordon  to  a  kind  of  awe. 

"  I  am  going  to  St.  Petersburg,  Melania  Nicholov- 
na." 

"  Yes." 

"  I  hope  I  may  have  your  forgiveness  for — for 
this  misadventure." 

She  looked  at  him  in  surprise. 

"  You  mean  for  allowing  me  to  be  captured  by 
these  robbers  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  You  have  my  forgiveness  for  that,  though  there 
was  no  need  of  it.  This  you  could  not  help.  You 
were  not  paid  to  deliver  me  to  these  robbers  and 
you  did  your  best,  I  grant  that,  to  preserve  me  from 
them." 

He  bowed.  She  had  after  all  a  right  to  remind 
him  he  had  been  paid  to  serve  her  ill. 

"  You  know  why  I  was  taking  you  to  St.  Peters- 
burg ?" 

"  I  do." 

"  Do  you  forgive  me  for  that  too  ?  " 
She  did  not  answer. 

"  I  do  not  forgive  myself,"  he  said  quietly. 

Still  she  did  not  answer,  though  she  had  a  desire 
to  look  at  him,  to  see  what  expression  he  bore,  to 
read  the  story  in  his  eyes.    But  she  did  not  dare. 

"  May  I  explain  ?  "  he  asked. 


98  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Is  it  necessary  ?  "  She  longed  to  hear  him 
speak,  else  she  would  have  cut  short  the  interview. 

"  Yes/'  he  replied.  "  I  agreed  to  take  you  to 
St.  Petersburg  to  Count  Stolemkin  because  I  was 
glad  of  something  to  do.  If  I  had  not  come  another 
would.  And  there  was  honour  in  being  first  to  you 
for  there  were  others  on  the  road.  You  might  have 
been — so  different  from  what  you  are.  And  maids 
are  married  without  much  protest  here.  So  it  was 
nothing  to  me  that  I  came  for  Count  Stolemkin, 
and  now,  it  is  something  that  I  go  to  him  as  I 
do." 

She  wanted  to  speak  and  could  not. 

"  I  am  glad  Count  Stolemkin  will  be  baulked, 
Melania  Nicholovna." 

"  You  are  not  a  very  faithful  servant."  She 
boggled  at  the  name  and  refused  it.  She  was  glad 
to  be  able  to  speak,  for  she  wished  to  forgive  and 
yet  to  remind  without  undue  piquancy. 

"  Like  master,  like  servant.  I  can  be  faithful, 
in  some  cases,  Melania  Nicholovna,  unto  death." 

"  I  did  not  wish  to  reproach  you  on  the  ground 
of  unfaithfulness,  Louis  Alexandrovitch,"  she  said. 

"  I  am  glad.    You  know  what  I  am  going  to  do  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"I  am  taking  the  Countess  Puroff  to  Count 
Stolemkin — you  understand  ?  " 

She  hesitated.  She  was  made  a  party  to  the 
imposture. 

"  Yes,"  she  muttered. 

"  It  is  the  best  way.    I  believe  he  deserves  it. 
And  you  will  forgive  me  ?  " 
She  fixed  her  eyes  on  him  and  was  too  young  to 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  99 


dwell  in  resentment,  when  he  spoke  and  looked  as 
he  did. 

"  I  forgive  you/'  she  said. 

He  took  her  hand  with  a  courtly  attitude  and 
kissed  it.    She  was  not  unwilling. 

"  I  can,  Melania  Nicholovna,"  he  repeated,  "  be 
faithful  unto  death,"  and  there  was  no  mistaking 
the  fervour  in  the  voice. 

Her  bosom  heaved.  He  was  the  first  man  to 
have  touched  her  heart.  She  looked  at  him  with 
more  than  gratitude. 

"  I  believe  you,"  she  murmured. 

"  I  will  come  back,"  he  said 

"  But  you  run  a  risk,  a  great  risk  in  St.  Peters- 
burg  " 

She  was  quickly  laying  aside  pride  and  pomp. 

"  I  have  run  much  greater,  dear  lady,  and  shall 
come  back  to  you — to  take  you  safely  from  these." 
He  made  a  motion  with  his  arm  to  signify  her  present 
captors. 

"  I — I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you — safe  out  of  St. 
Petersburg." 

''I  am  most  grateful,  Melania  Nicholovna.  I 
shall  go  now  with  hope  and  return  with  joy." 
I  shall  mind  neither  Stolemkin  nor  his  pranks  and 
tricks,  for  I  know  you  will  be  glad  to  see  me 
again." 

"  Safe  out  of  St.  Petersburg,"  she  said  quickly, 
with  her  heart  beating  somewhat  quickly  too,  "  For 
I  fear,  Louis  Alexandrovitch,  I  fear." 

"  Not  for  me.  I  shall  come  now  I  know  you  will 
be  glad  to  see  me  again  " 

He  waited  for  her  to  finish  the  sentence  once  more 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


if  she  would.    He  hung  as  upon  a  precipice,  waved 

a  defiant  flag  and  

She  held  her  peace. 

So  he  took  her  hand  again  and  the  colour  now  went 
to  her  face  and  her  limbs  trembled  with  a  wild  emo- 
tion. He  bent  on  one  knee  and  kissed  her  hand, 
holding  it  well. 

"  Now  I  have  your  forgiveness  I  am  happy,  and 
yet  not  so  happy  as  at  the  news  you  will  be  glad 
to  see  me  again." 

"  Yes,  come  again,"  she  mmrmured. 

He  took  leave  of  her  as  one  who  goes  fully  armed 
and  with  all  confidence  to  reach  his  great  wish. 
And  she  watched  him  go  with  eyes  aflame,  with 
cheeks  burning  and  a  fire  of  such  gladness  in  her 
heart  as  she  had  never  known  before. 

Sofia  was  now  the  Countess  Puroff.  She  knew 
the  histories  of  all  her  dead  relatives  and  the  pecu- 
liarities of  the  living  ones.  She  was  not  likely  to 
meet  anybody  in  St.  Petersburg  who  had  seen  her 
since  she  was  a  small  child,  so  that  curiosity  would 
easily  be  satisfied  and  suspicion  unawakened. 

The  maid  was  coached,  drilled,  and  warned.  The 
safety  of  her  mistress  depended  on  somebody  else 
successfully  taking  her  place.  Marie  was  dubious 
of  many  things  at  first,  but  the  Countess — the  real 
one — spoke  to  her  so  distinctly  that  finally  she  under- 
stood with  the  thoroughness  of  the  dull. 

Gordon  had  his  kibitka  to  himself  this  time  and 
Sofia  had  hers.  She  was  naturally  self-contained 
and  did  not  paint  her  emotions  on  her  face  to  attract 
the  casual.  But  there  was  a  look  of  serener  seri- 
ousness about  her  as  she  left  her  brother. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  lor 

'*  If  anything  happens,  Sofia,"  he  said,  "  I  will  kill 
Stolemkin." 

Things  will  happen  as  we  wish,  Juri." 

That  is  the  way  the  strong  talk,  and  Sofia  Glebof 
was  no  weakling. 

Glebof  sent  two  of  his  most  trusted  men  to  watch 
over  Sofia  and  be  at  hand  in  case  of  need  to  bring 
messages  to  him  of  importance. 

So  Gordon,  not  unhappy,  was  going  to  risk  much 
in  a  great  imposture.  It  had  not  taken  him  long 
to  realize  the  inevitableness  of  the  situation.  When 
Glebof  had  first  suggested  his  taking  some  one  else 
as  the  Countess  Puroff  to  Stolemkin,  Gordon  had 
laughed  at  him.  The  thing  was  preposterous  from 
so  many  points  of  view.  That  is  the  worst  of  first 
impressions — a  gentle  incline  is  a  mountain,  a  cloud 
a  thing  of  substance,  a  trivial  act  one  of  importance, 
and  so  on.  Glebof  with  power  behind  him  spoke 
quietly  and  to  the  point.  Gordon's  connivance  was 
necessary,  otherwise  to  spite  Stolemkin  the  real 
Countess  would  be  killed  and  hers  and  Gordon's  ears 
sent  to  St.  Petersburg  as  testamentary  evidence. 
There  was  no  advantage  in  that  to  the  Countess  or 
to  Gordon.  And  Louis,  seeing  the  way  of  salvation 
for  the  slip  of  a  woman  with  violet  eyes,  and  a  great 
game  for  himself  to  play  in  a  world  where  imposture 
was  forgiven  to  daring,  and  the  reward  went  to  the 
bold,  actually  came  to  welcome  the  idea.  He  even 
put  aside  the  manifold  advantages  and  pleased  him- 
self with  the  idea  that  Stolemkin  deserved  it.  It 
was  Providence  bruising  the  head  of  the  devil. 
And  there  were  certainly  risks,  which  was  spice  in 
the  wine,  hiunour  in  the  drama. 


102 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


They  left  tears  behind — the  Countess's.  She 
was  young,  alone,  and  somewhat  in  love.  Tears  were 
natural  and  becoming.  And  it  was  a  risky  situa- 
tion for  a  woman,  young  and  beautiful,  to  be 
alone  amongst  a  pack  of  robbers.  In  Russia  in  the 
eighteenth  century  risky  situations  for  men  and 
women  were  as  common  as  the  days. 

Through  the  thick  forest  went  Gordon  and  Sofia. 
The  firs  dark,  almost  black  underneath,  showed  a 
refreshing  green  light  where  the  sun's  rays  pierced 
the  army  of  arboreal  spears  and  struck  companion- 
ship with  the  ends  of  the  boughs.  The  road  was 
littered  with  the  slaughter  of  the  wind  and  tempest 
and  the  season's  scythe.  The  broken  lower  branches 
of  the  firs,  too,  gave  ambition's  lesson  from  Nature  : 
what  to-day  we  delight  in,  to-morrow  we  spurn. 

And  then  out  of  the  forest,  past  land  that  heaved 
slowly  like  a  leviathan,  over  rivers  creeping  snake- 
wise  towards  their  Nirvana,  through  towns,  on  they 
went  towards  their  goal. 

They  changed  horses  at  the  post-houses,  replen- 
ished their  stock  with  the  things  they  required,  and 
they  entered  on  the  final  stage  of  the  journey  to 
Stolemkin  and  the  great  imposture. 

Gordon  found  himself  mightily  disturbed.  He 
called  Sofia  Melania  Nicholovna  and  the  act  seemed 
to  grip  his  vitals.  He  could  not  pronounce  that 
name  without  seeing  the  real  owner  of  it  and  he 
dwelt  on  it  like  a  musician  on  a  beautiful  chord. 

Sofia  might  have  been  brass,  polished,  attractive 
and  warm-looking,  but  nerveless  and  cold.  Yet  she 
was  not  that  by  zones.  She  had  a  will  uncommon 
to  most  women,  for  the  danger  she  incurred  was  great. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  103 


Having  her  tongue  cut  out  would  probably  be  one 
of  the  least  of  her  sufferings  if  she  were  caught  at 
her  audacious  game. 

Gordon,  too,  carried  plenty  in  his  hands,  but 
principally  he  went  for  his  heart's  sake,  and  that  will 
take  a  man  to  altaltissimo. 

They  both  looked  with  bright  eyes  as  they  entered 
Peter's  new  capital,  for  their  thoughts  were  nudging 
each  other  in  anticipation.  There  was,  in  fact,  a 
slight  scuffle  at  the  very  entrance  to  the  town.  A 
man  with  sharp,  tiny  eyes  standing  at  the  corner  of 
a  street  as  Gordon  passed  threw  a  cudgel,  which 
missed  Louis  William's  head  by  a  bare  inch. 

Gordon  was  out  in  a  trice  with  sword  and  pistol. 
Two  other  men  seemed  to  make  for  the  carriage 
where  Sofia  was,  but  at  the  sight  of  the  pistol  and 
Gordon's  eyes  and  stride  they  hung  back,  then  with- 
drew with  ample  discretion. 

It  was  like  Frolof's  work  :  a  fair  plan  lacking 
thorough  management. 

Count  Stolemkin's  joy  was  exuberant  and  almost 
ostentatious  when  the  postboys  dashed  to  his  door. 
He  came  out  with  jovial  tongue,  irrepressible  ges- 
ture and  triumph  in  every  attitude.  He  shook 
hands  with  Gordon  as  if  his  hands  were  the  maws  of  4 
an  alligator  and  was  greatly  surprised  at  Gordon's 
coolness.  It  was  a  characteristic  of  the  foreigner, 
he  imagined — cold-blooded,  brave  and  very  useful. 
But  his  blue  eyes  showed  their  colour  (not  much  at 
the  best  of  times,  but  interesting  in  their  steely  hue) 
when  he  saw  Sofia. 

She,  too,  was  cool  and  his  blood,  bubbling  at 
magnificence  point,  made  him  w^onder  why  they  were 


104  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


both  so  cool.  He  thought  it  remarkable  :  then 
realized  it  was  foolish  to  expect  them  to  feel  what 
he  felt :  they  knew  nothing  of  his  thoughts.  So 
he  welcomed  Countess  Puroff  with  warmth,  was 
delighted  to  welcome  her  for  her  father's  sake,  but 
now  that  he  had  seen  her,  for  her  own. 

She  was  calm  and  reserved.  She  thanked  him 
and  discreetly  let  him  do  almost  all  the  talking. 

Phew  !  He  whistled  to  himself  when  they  were 
indoors.  She  is  a  prize.  Air  of  an  empress. 
What  grandchildren!  She  will  be  a  mother  in  a 
million." 

He  drained  a  large  tankard  of  beer.  He  chuckled 
loudly,  chuckled  heartily.  .  .  "  Frolof  and  Bulavin," 
he  muttered.  Ho  !  ho !  ho  !  What  a  face ! 
And  breasts  and  hips.  .  .  "  He  was  half  inclined 
to  marry  the  girl  himself  and  find  another  mate  for 
his  son. 

He  chuckled  immensely. 

For  the  matter  of  that  so  did  Sofia,  only  she  made 
no  fuss  about  it. 

And  Gordon  knew  how  to  hide  his  feelings. 


CHAPTER  IX 


"  As  a  rule  men  freely  believe  what  they  wish.'* 

— Caesar. 

THE  introduction  of  Stolemkin's  son  to  his 
future  wife  was  a  moment  of  impressions. 
Vasili  Antonovitch  had  wondered  very  much  "  if 
he  would  Hke  her  or  not."  His  timid  eyes  looked 
rabbit-Uke  at  an  unusual  figure.  But  Sofia,  self- 
possessed,  modest,  inclined  to  be  timorous,  and  not 
the  least  forward,  gave  him  every  encouragement. 
She  bowed  submissively  and  said  nothing.  He 
was  tongue-tied  too,  for  she  surprised  him  and  he 
was  uncommonly  nervous.    The  big  Count  laughed. 

He  is  all  right,"  said  the  heavy  father.  He 
is  his  mother's  son  and  will  be  a  kind  husband." 

"  He  will  control  his  wife  less  than  any  I  know," 
said  Sofia  to  herself.  To  Stolemkin  she  looked  a 
picture  of  the  perfect  woman  (in  a  man's  eyes),  and 
the  ideal  wife  (in  her  husband's).  For  a  second  time 
he  thought  his  son  such  a  lucky  creature  that  he 
almost  envied  him. 

Sofia  played  her  role  so  admirably  that  Stolemkin 
boasted  through  St.  Petersburg  of  the  coming  wed- 
ding and  his  elect  daughter-in-law's  virtues. 

Biren  had  ratified  the  promise,  and  Frolof  and 
Bulavin,  cursing  somewhat,  had  pretended  to  join 

105 


io6  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


in  the  general  congratulations.  Bulavin's  man  had 
returned  home,  but  Frolof's  had  not.  Frolof, 
knowing  he  had  lost,  did  not  mind  what  had  become 
of  his  emissary — so  long  as  it  was  something  un- 
pleasant, for  he  felt  hugely  vindictive. 

St.  Petersburg  tongues  wagged,  of  course,  for 
Stolemkin's  capture  was  rather  dazzling.  The 
match-making  mothers  and  advantage-seeking 
fathers  wondered  why  they  had  allowed  such  a  prize 
to  be  secured  by  the  Stolemkin  bear.  They  sniffed 
for  a  weakness  in  the  trail.  ^ 

"  Have  you  seen  her  ?  " 

"  Yes.  A  perfect  moujik — ^hands  like  a  wood- 
man's." 

''Incredible!  Hands  like  a  woodman's.  .  .  And 
her  manners  ?  " 

"  She  scarcely  moves  :  barely  opens  her  mouth." 
"  And  all  that  wealth  !  " 

"  Preposterous  !  And  Stolemkin's  son  is  a  poor 
wight,  is  he  not  ?  " 

Pouf  !  St.  Peter  ! — only  quarter  of  a  man.  A 
worm  with  a  groan,  but  watches  the  clouds  they  tell 
me  and  reads  poetry." 

They  will  be  a  fine  match." 
"  But  the  girl  has  something  in  her."    The  lady 
wagged  her  head. 

''  Ah  !    Intelligent  ?  " 

''  I  cannot  say.  She  is  deep — like  a  pool,  so  it  is 
difficult  to  say  what :  but  there  is  something  in  her. 
She  has  a  jaw." 

A  jaw  !    And  hands  like  a  woodman's." 
"  And  yet,  one  won't  take  liberties  with  her." 
Men  or  women  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  107 


"  Neither.  The  men  won't  want  and  the  women 
won't  dare." 

"  A  tigress,  eh  ?  She  will  suit  Stolemkin — but 
what  wealth  !    And  how  he  boasts  !  " 

"'He  always  did.  A  perfect  beast.  I  wish  his 
moujik  would  scratch  his  eyes  out.  Have  you 
heard  " 

This  was  about  other  matters  and  does  not  con- 
cern our  people.  The  conversation  was  only  typi- 
cal. There  was  malice  in  it,  of  course,  but  women 
are  not  chivalrous  in  defeat,  and  in  the  scramble  for 
laurel  and  leisure  which  keeps  idle  society  going, 
gossip  is  part  of  the  game.  It  is  indeed  by  conver- 
sations such  as  these  that  one  gathers  contemporary 
views  (with  a  reduction  of  fifty  per  cent,  at  least 
to  account  for  the  bias). 

The  fact  is  noteworthy  :  Stolemkin  scored  and, 
knowing  it,  blazed  it  abroad.  The  story  of  the 
race  leaked  out  and  that  put  a  frame  of  Romance 
round  Sofia.  Gordon,  too,  was  mentioned  freely, 
but  he  kept  in  the  dark  places  as  much  as  possible, 
and  refused  to  speak  of  the  journey.  Silence  is  good, 
but  the  right  word  at  the  right  time  is  better.  Even 
Gordon's  silence  made  one  observant  man  wonder, 
and  that  was  to  be  deprecated  at  present. 

Stolemkin,  knowing  there  was  many  a  slip  be- 
tween the  cup  and  the  lip,  hastened  the  preparations 
for  the  marriage.  He  did  not  care  to  let  Sofia  out 
of  his  keeping  and  sent  his  son  to  live  with  an  uncle. 

Sofia  puzzled  him.  He  was  not  of  the  most  pene- 
trating breed,  but  he  could  not  reconcile  many  of 
her  actions  with  her  bearing  and  her  looks.  It  was 
patent — as  the  lady  had  remarked — no  one  could 


io8  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


take  liberties  with  her  :  yet  she  seemed  lamb-like 
on  occasions,  easily  led,  of  no  resistance.  The  truth 
was  Sofia  felt  her  way  amid  customs  and  ceremonies 
that  were  as  novel  to  her  as  furniture  and  frivolities. 

St.  Petersburg  society  had  the  morals  of  the  farm- 
yard, and  Stolemkin,  repeating  something  lewd  con- 
cerning one  distinguished  and  noble  lady,  saw  Sofia 
look  modest  and  angry.  He  became  envious  of  his 
son  again  and  giggled  to  himself. 

Sofia  felt  her  way  with  wondrous  caution.  She 
made  use  of  Marie  to  the  limit  of  possibilities.  She 
made  her  fetch  and  carry  gossip,  discover  intentions, 
explain  methods  and  give  instruction.  The  maid 
was  nervous  but  elated — swelling  her  head  with  pride 
and  fearing  greatly  for  her  skin. 

Sofia  was  making  sure  of  Stolemkin's  faith  in  her. 
She  held  him  firmly,  and  no  one  was  keener  of  drag- 
ging this  peasant  girl  into  the  Stolemkin  family 
circle  than  he.  He  pushed  his  son  to  Sofia,  slapped 
him,  almost  kicked  him,  on  to  her,  feeling  all  the 
time  the  girl  was  far  too  good  for  him. 

Vasili  Antonovitch  was  regular  in  his  attendance, 
and  the  Count,  his  father,  almost  as  regular  in  his 
jeers. 

"  Come  on,  you  milk-faced,  petticoat  soul !  " 
he  cried  out  as  he  saw  his  son  bowing  before  the 
ikon.  "  She  is  too  good  for  you,  but  by  the  saints  ! 
she  will  help  you  to  beget  decent  sons.  Seen  her 
hips,  boy  ?  If  you  start  any  mooning  with  her  she 
will  put  you  across  her  knee — and  serve  you  right. 
Waken  you  up  !    Are  you  satisfied  with  her  ?  " 

"  Yes,  father." 

"  Is  she  satisfied  with  you  ?  "    He  laughed  jeer- 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


ingly.  "  Here/'  he  handed  him  a  stiff  glass  of 
brandy.  "  Drink  that.  Get  life  into  you,  man, 
when  you  go  near  a  woman  like  Melania  Nicholovna." 

Vasili  Antonovitch  took  the  brandy  and  with  an 
eye  on  the  ikon  (as  a  prayer  to  Heaven)  and  a 
thought  for  Melania  Nicholovna  drank  the  spirit 
almost  with  gusto.  He  might  have  been  a  knight- 
errant  taking  a  holy  potion.  His  father  looked  up 
in  surprise  :  then  he  strode  to  him  and  slapped  him 
(hard)  on  the  back 

"  Bravo  !  By  the  saints  !  you  are  improving. 
Is  she  making  you  take  to  a  good  drink,  or  is  it 
the  brandy  driving  you  to  her  ?  Let  me  look  at 
you."  He  turned  him  about  as  he  might  have 
turned  a  joint  on  a  jack  and  slapped  him  as  he  might 
have  hit  a  horse  on  the  buttock. 

Vasili  Antonovitch  shook. 

The  big  man  laughed. 

"  She  will  play  the  devil  with  you,  I'll  warrant. 
Son  o'  mine,  trussed  by  a  woman  ...  It  will  be,  I  can 
see  that.  By  Heaven  !  she  is  too  good  for  you.  I 
may  have  to  take  her  myself." 

Vasili  Antonovitch  winced  and  in  self-defence 
and  self-assertion  stretched  himself.  The  motive 
was  patent  and  the  man  of  blood  and  beer  laughed. 

To  see  Vasili  push  out  his  chest  like  a  soldier  was 
comical.  After  all  the  peacock  has  done  more 
brilliant  things  for  his  womankind,  and  puffing  a  chest 
is  a  small  matter,  though  it  may  signify  much. 

"  Go  to  her,"  shouted  Stolemkin  pere,  "  Let  her 
lick  you  before  she  eats  you."  He  imitated  the 
puffing  of  the  chest  and  laughed.  "  By  God  !  but 
you  are  stirred  :  the  blood's  moving.    Go  to  her." 


no  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


The  father  in  him  was  almost  pleased.  His  ofi- 
spring  had  more  in  him  than  had  been  reckoned  on. 
Stolemkin  went  out  to  boast — far  from  nicely — that 
his  son  was  doing  his  wooing  like  a  lion. 

Sofia,  meek  and  modest  at  first  with  Vasili  Anton- 
ovitch,  grew  bolder  as  she  discovered  his  character. 
A  woman  invariably,  almost  instinctively,  measures 
the  length,  breadth  and  height  of  a  man.  She 
wants  to  know  how  far  she  can  go  with  him  and 
what  he  really  weighs  in  the  balance.  A  man,  with 
the  heritage  of  rule  in  him,  goes  floundering  like 
an  elephant  in  a  flower-garden.  The  slave  watches 
his  master's  eye  and  understands  it :  the  master 
bludgeons  and  blunders. 

Vasili  Antonovitch,  being  somewhat  feminine, 
felt  his  way  and  quickly  discovered  that  Melania 
Nicholovna  (i.e.,  Sofia — it  is  hoped  the  reader  won't 
find  the  nomenclature  troublesome)  desired  to  be 
friends.  He  didn't  see  the  depth  of  her — he  is  not 
to  be  adversely  criticized  on  that  score — ^but  what 
he  did  understand  pleased  and  comforted  him. 
(Sofia  saw  through  him  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour — at 
least,  well  enough  for  her  purpose.) 

He  was  a  poor  specimen  of  a  man  at  their  first 
meeting,  stammering,  purring,  glancing,  sighing — 
nothing  long  and  all  without  a  solitary  virtue  to 
catch  a  woman  who  wants  a  mate  and  not  something 
dollish.  To  Sofia  this  was  important  as  straws. 
She  weighed  her  man  and  knew  how  to  deal  with 
him.  The  father  in  a  way  was  easy  to  handle  for  a 
woman  of  Sofia's  figure  and  will.  It  was  the  ladies 
who  knew  a  thing  or  two,  who  pried,  put  leading 
questions,  doubled  back  on  past  admissions,  seemed 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  iii 


to  have  suspicions  and  something  up  their  sleeves — 
these  Sofia  wished  would  keep  away  from  her. 

Vasili  Antonovitch  came  into  the  room  where 
Sofia  was  with  the  air  of  Esther  going  to  call  on 
King  Ahasuerus.  He  stood  in  the  outer  court,  as 
it  were,  and  waited. 

"  Vasili  Antonovitch/'  she  said. 

He  came  forward  like  a  schoolboy. 

"  Melania    Nicholovna  "    Then    he  stuck. 

"  Well/'  and  she  cast  a  glance  round  the  room  by 
a  warning  of  instinct,  "  are  you  glad  to  come  and 
see  me,  or  do  you  come  because  you  ought  ?  " 

"I  am  glad,  Melania  Nicholovna." 

"  Your  father  sent  you,  I  am  sure." 

"  I  would  not  mind  who  sent  me,  Melania 
Nicholovna.    I  am  glad." 

"  And  only  saw  me,  as  it  were,  yesterday." 

"  Yesterday  or  yesterday  years  ago,  Melania 
Nicholovna.    I  am  glad." 

Vasili  was  distinctly  sincere.  Sofia  had  captured 
not  only  the  father,  but  the  son — rather  good  slaying 
when  one  thinks  of  the  difference  in  their  natures. 

She  looked  now  at  Vasili,  measuring  him,  of  course, 
for  he  was  the  victim  of  his  father's  brutality.  With* 
him  Sofia  anticipated  no  trouble. 

"  Am  I  like  what  you  expected  ?  "  she  asked, 
ringing  on  the  eternal  feminine  anvil :  but  ring- 
ing on  it  like  a  master.  She  had  no  care  for  his 
answer  to  flatter  her. 

"  N-no,  and  yet   I  have  forgotten  now/'  he 

said  charmingly  and  simply,  "  what  I  expected.  I 
know  I  was  afraid  " 

"  Afraid  ?  " 


iia  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  That  I  might  not  Uke  you." 

He  stammered  it  all  most  beautifully,  with  no 
brazen  dash,  no  covering  :  he  showed  his  soul  naked 
and  unashamed. 

He  did  not  stir  her  pulse  an  atom. 

"  And  do  you  ?  "  she  asked  very  quietly  with 
simulation  sufficient  for  two. 

He  touched  her  hand  and  sighed. 

"  Yes — yes.  I  am  so  glad  you  came,  Melania 
Nicholovna." 

He  noticed  that  her  hands  were  firmer  than  his 
and  she  saw  the  way  of  his  observation. 

"  I  have  lived  in  the  country  all  my  life,"  she  said. 

"  I  like  the  country,"  he  said. 

"  When  we  are  married,  we  will  go  there." 

He  looked  at  her  worshippingly.  He  dared  not 
have  made  such  a  speech,  and  yet  he  loved  her  for 
making  it.  "  When  we  are  married."  .  .  .  If  any- 
thing she  was  almost  too  deadly  indifferent  to  all 
save  the  purpose  in  view.  She  caught  herself  up 
at  times  and  a  languorous  look  escaped  her,  but 
not  often,  for  she  regarded  such  tricks  as  mere 
"  ointments  " — that  was  her  own  word. 

"  I  like  the  country,"  he  said.  "  Have  you  been 
to  St.  Petersburg  often  ?  " 

"  No." 

He  sat  by  her  side  waiting,  like  a  subject  upon 
his  sovereign. 

She  gently  led  him  on  to  speak  of  his  daily  round, 
his  father's  habits,  the  people  who  visited  there,  and 
gathered  neatly  and  effectively  the  information 
which  pleased  her. 

He,  delighted  to  sit  near  her  and  talk  to  her, 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  113 


spoke  freely  and  without  restraint.  He  confessed 
at  the  end,  when  through  the  excitement  of  his  joy 
he  gained  confidence,  that  he  did  not  care  much  for 
his  father,  and  then  looked  at  her  curiously  as  if 
afraid  of  her  judgment  and  even  denunciation. 

She  looked  at  him  oddly.  He  was,  to  her,  a 
curious  creature,  and  she  had  met  many  quaint 
specimens  of  humanity. 

"  He  is  something  of  a  brute,  eh  ?  "  she  said  almost 
with  luxury,  for  it  was  pleasant  in  St.  Petersburg, 
in  that  house,  to  Stolemkin's  son,  to  say  something 
bitter  concerning  the  butcherer  of  her  father. 

Vasili  looked  round  timorously  :  then  nodded. 

"  They  say  it  is  wicked  not  to  love  one's  father.'' 

"  One's  parents,  Vasili  Antonovitch,  are  men  and 
women.  If  they  are  kind  and  good,  we  respect  and 
love  them  :  if  they  are  cruel  and  bad,  we  hate  them — 
and  God  curse  them  !  .  .  .  Mine  " — she  paused  with 
a  dreary  vision  before  her — "  were  good." 

"  Coimt  Puroff  was  good  and  kind — yes,  I  am 
sure  of  it." 

She  had,  for  a  moment,  forgotten  herself.  Count 
Puroff  was  her  father,  but  she  had  thought  of 
another,  one  flogged  to  death  by  Count  Stolemkin's 
orders.  She  looked  at  Vasili  q(.uickly  with  her  pene- 
trating— almost  animal  penetrating — eyes,  and  was 
satisfied.  Why  should  he  suspect  ?  The  last  per- 
son contagious  to  suspicion  is  a  man  in  love.  The 
interesting  thing  concerning  suspicion  is  that  in 
some  cases  it  is  significant  of  knowledge  and  intelli- 
gence and  in  others  of  ignorance  and  stupidity. 
Love  bowls  them  all  out  alike. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,   and  your  father  is  not  good,  eh  ? " 

H 


114  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Sh  !  "    He  put  his  finger  on  his  lips. 

"  Or  kind  ?  " 

"  Are  you  not  afraid  ?  " 

"  No." 

He  stared  at  her. 

"  I  used  to  be,"  he  muttered,  almost  as  if  meditat- 
ing on  the  fact. 

"  And  are  you  not  now  ?  " 

"  Not  since  I  have  seen  you — not  so  much,  Melania 
Nicholovna." 

She  turned  away  her  head. 

"  What  do  they  say  of  me  in  St.  Petersburg  ?  " 
she  asked  abruptly. 

"  I  fancy  they  are  jealous,"  he  said. 

"  Jealous  ?  " 

"  Yes — of  me."  And  he  laughed,  a  little  proudly 
— somewhat  cock-sparrowish :  he  could  scarcely 
manage  the  sublime  peacock. 

"  You  do  not  tell  me  what  they  say,"  she  con- 
tinued, her  desire  for  direct  information  being  a 
keen  affair  with  her  and  not  a  matter  of  rippling 
rapture. 

"  They  praise  you,  Melania  Nicholovna,  they  say 
you  are  beautiful.  My  father  admires  you — very 
much." 

"  But  the  others,  what  do  they  say  ?  Tell  me 
everything  —  what  they  praise  and  what  they 
criticize.  I  would  rather  know  what  they 
criticize." 

They  say  I  am  lucky  and  you  are — they  do  not 

criticize  " 

"  Yes  they  do." 

He  looked  at  her  timidly. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  115 


"  They  must,"  she  said  a  little  more  softly.  "  I 
want  to  know  particularly  what  they  criticize." 

Most  of  us  say  that  but  we  don't  mean  it.  People 
do  not  relish  criticism  as  a  rule,  in  spite  of  loud 
declarations,  but  they  do  relish  praise.  There  is  no 
sauce  like  it,  and  none  are  so  credulous  as  the 
flattered.  Sofia  wanted  to  hear  criticism  because 
she  wished  to  know  if  she  erred  in  her  strange  sur- 
roundings. 

But  Vasili  could  not  remember  the  criticisms,  so 
she  listened  to  the  praises. 

She  easily  gathered  that  her  marriage  with  Count 
Stolemkin's  son  was  apparently  a  great  topic  of  St. 
Petersburg  society.  Everybody  seemed  to  be  tak- 
ing an  interest  in  it,  and  Count  Stolemkinhimself  was 
boasting  right  and  left,  in  every  quarter,  of  the  mar- 
riage of  his  son  with  an  heiress  who  had  "  estates  in 
Livonia,  Revel,  Ukraine  and  Moscow ;  jewels  to 
dazzle  the  Shah  of  Persia,  the  King  of  France,  and 
endow  the  Great  Frederick ;  wood  enough  to  put 
palisading  round  Europe ;  fish  to  fill  up  the  Caspian, 
and  30,000  serfs." 

There  was  no  doubt  of  Stolemkin's  humour  :  he 
boasted  astonishingly. 

"  The  moment  people  see  me  now,"  said  Vasili, 
"  they  at  once  talk  of  my  wedding." 

"  Encourage  them,"  she  said,  "  If  they  talk  of 
the  wealth  of  Countess  Puroff  " — she  permitted  her- 
self a  slight  gesture — "  increase  it." 

He,  glad  to  do  anything  she  asked,  said  he  would 
multiply  it  as  much  as  she  liked. 

"  Va^  Antonovitch,"  she  said  quietly. 

"  Yes,  Melania  Nicholovna." 


ii6  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Do  you  really  care  for  me  ?  " 
*'  I  adore  you,  Melania.    I  would  die  for  you." 
She  put  up  a  warning  finger  to  stop  his  repetition. 
"  Will  you  do  anything  I  ask  you  ?  " 
"  Anything — ask  me  now." 
"  It  is  a  promise  ?  " 

"  It  is  an  oath,  Melania  Nicholovna — I  swear  it." 
"  I  will  remember,"  she  said. 


CHAPTER  X 


"  Must  helpless  man,  in  ignorance  sedate, 
Roll  darkling  down  the  torrent  of  his  fate.'* 

— Samuel  Johnson. 

MEN  and  women  go  their  great  and  little 
ways  pursuing  their  varied  plans,  recking  for 
the  most  part  nothing  of  their  pursuers.  We  strive 
and  strive  and  strive  and  Circumstance  (the  real  name 
of  the  Sphinx)  arranges  things  as  he  cares,  and  our 
little  (or  big)  schemes,  taking  their  chance,  either 
come  to  naught  or,  in  the  glorious  moment  of  suc- 
cess, inspire  a  prayer  to  Providence  for  the  little .  . . 
circumstance. 

Circumstance  has  as  many  faces  as  there  are 
figures  on  the  die.  He  can  laugh  and  cry  at  the 
same  moment — at  two  different  people,  of  course. 
But  his  greatest  delight  is  to  get  hold  of  Surprise 
and  plot  with  him.  They  make  havoc  of  mortal 
plans  then,  and  their  laughter  is  a  thing  Titanic. 
Only  the  discerning  can  hear  them.  Both  the  wise 
and  the  foolish  talk  of  Luck,  not  thinking  perhaps 
they  are  referring  to  the  offspring  of  Circumstance 
and  Surprise,  a  boisterous  child  of  no  responsibility, 
caring  for  nothing  but  effect. 

Sofia  watched  the  preparations  for  her  marriage 
with  careful  and  observant  eyes.    She  heard  the 

U7 


ii8  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


reverberations  of  Stolemkin's  boasts  with  pleasure, 
and  always  encouraged  his  cannonading  in  that 
direction.  She  was  not  nervous.  Familiarity  was 
gradually  eating  up  all  the  timid  shoots  of  anxiety, 
and  Sofia  began  to  feel  as  safe  in  St.  Petersburg  and 
Stolemkin's  house  as  in  the  woods  south  of  the 
Valdai  Hills.  And  she  was  greatly  gratified  by 
the  stir  she  had  made  in  the  pool  of  St.  Petersburg 
society.  The  bigger  the  attraction  she  became, 
the  more  satisfaction  would  be  drawn  from  the  plight 
of  Count  Stolemkin.  And  by  this  time  presents 
were  arriving  daily  in  honour  of  the  lucky  couple. 
Count  Stolemkin  swore  at  his  son  and  longed  to  lay 
hands  on  his  daughter-in-law  elect,  but  she  kept  him 
at  a  safe  arm's  length.  He  gambled  recklessly  at 
faro  and  quinze,  and  promised  to  pay  in  good  time  : 
he  thought  of  the  estates  and  the  jewels  and  the 
wood  and  the  fish  of  Countess  Puroff . 

The  Court  had  returned  from  its  short  season  at 
Peterof,  and  began  to  take  an  interest  in  the  wed- 
ding. Biren  considered  the  whole  affair  one  of  his 
scheming  and  was,  therefore,  in  self-interest  bound 
to  take  great  notice  of  the  function.  Ostermann,  too, 
was  greatly  interested. 

Gordon,  watched  from  afar.  He  was  some- 
what disquieted  at  times  when  he  thought  of  the 
real  Melania  Nicholovna  in  the  hands  of  Glebof ; 
and  he  also  realized  to  the  full  that  the  consequences 
would  be  neither  mean  nor  desirable  when  Stolemkin 
was  hoist  with  the  imposture  and  his  boasting  was 
swept  away  in  the  tempest  of  ridicule. 

Russia  was  full  of  the  terrible  at  that  age,  even 
if  the  savage  Ivan  was  dead.    The    Secret  Court 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


119 


of  Police  "  with  the  brutal  Ushakof  at  the  head  was 
equal  to  any  injustice  and  neglected  no  cruelty. 

Glebof  sent  messengers  to  St.  Petersburg  so  as 
to  be  kept  informed  of  what  went  on,  and  Sofia 
managed  to  commimicate  with  him  without  diflBi- 
culty. 

The  proximity  of  the  wedding  made  more  than 
two  or  three  persons  nervous  in  St.  Petersburg. 
The  fugitive  escaping  over  the  frontier  and  the  slave 
within  sight  of  the  boundaries  of  Freedom  had 
kindred  feelings  to  the  conspirators  of  Stolemkin's 
humiliation. 

When  the  day  of  the  ceremony  dawned,  Gordon 
felt  an  intense  relief.  For  him  this  day  ended  the 
purgatory  of  his  stay  in  St.  Petersburg  ;  for  Sofia 
it  was  the  uprising  of  the  curtain  on  the  side-split- 
ting farce,     The  Fooling  of  Count  Stolemkin." 

She  did  not  concern  herself  with  what  might 
follow :  whether  "  The  Punishment  of  Sofia 
Glebof  "  or  anything  else.  She  was  for  tragic-farce 
and  wore  an  air  of  triumph. 

She  was  dressed  in  white  satin  with  silver  braid 
and  silver  buttons.  The  Court  dressmakers  had 
lent  their  aid  and  Count  Stolemkin  said  nothing 
must  be  stinted.  So  far  as  he  was  concerned  the 
affair  was  princely,  for  he  never  forgot  the  estates 
and  the  jewels,  the  timber,  the  fish,  and  the  thirty 
thousand  serfs.  All  St.  Petersburg  of  consideration 
was  there. 

Vasili  had  wondered  at  his  luck  and  then  thanked 
God  for  it.  The  Archimandrite  performed  the 
ceremony  before  crowded  aisles,  and  Sofia  was  a 
modest  and  most  attractive  bride.    Coimt  Stolemkin 


120  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


made  up  for  his  son's  humility  by  an  excess  of  pride, 
but  he  was  not  offensive  on  this  day.  He  could  not 
help  being  jovial,  hospitable,  joyous. 

The  reception  afterwards  was  a  crowded  affair. 

Vasili  Antonovitch  and  his  bride  were  to  spend 
their  honeymoon  near  Peterof,  and  then,  at  Sofia's 
request,  were  to  visit  her  estate  near  Moscow. 

But  the  Unexpected  played  a  card  and  compli- 
cated matters. 

Belof,  the  faithful  steward,  had  somehow  been 
suspicious  of  Gordon.  Probably  he  was  suspicious 
of  everybody  who  came  near  his  mistress  :  there  are 
people  of  that  uncomfortable  order.  The  departure 
of  Melania  Nicholovna  with  Gordon  had  been  a  dis- 
turbing matter  to  him,  particularly  as  Gordon  had 
refused  to  say  why  the  Countess  was  suddenly  called 
to  St.  Petersburg.  Mystery  is  always  fascinating, 
though  it  has  sometimes  the  fascination  of  the  rattle- 
snake. 

Belof,  in  a  suspicious,  unsatisfied  mood,  received 
Bulavin's  emissary.  "  The  Countess  gone.  .  .  . 
How  long  ? . . .  Which  way  ?  . . .  With  whom  ?•..'* 
et  cetera.  This  man  was  slow  but  desperate.  But, 
of  course,  he  mystified  Belof  more  and  more,  deep- 
ened his  suspicion  and  widened  his  fears. 

Two  people  in  a  great  hurry  to  take  his  mistress 
to  St.  Petersburg,  and  the  second  of  them  so  desper- 
ate that  he  would  chase  the  first.  ...  It  was  an 
idea  calculated  to  disturb  a  person  less  prone  to 
suspicion  and  more  given  to  rapid  conclusions  than 
Paul  Belof. 

He  was  mightily  disturbed.  What  could  it  mean  ? 
And  Melania  Nicholovna  was  now  in  the  care — care, 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  121 


custody  rather  of  that  iron-like  man  with  the  curly 
brown  hair  and  curious  name. 

Belof  wondered  what  he  should  do.  He  was  a  big, 
heavy  man,  as  the  reader  will  recall,  with  red  hair, 
moustache  and  beard  and  ponderous  men  generally 
are  not  the  quickest  in  thought  and  action.  When 
they  are,  they  are  men  of  mark. 

On  the  top  of  Belof's  perplexity  came  the  third 
inquirer  for  the  Countess.  So  behold  Belof  in  the 
arms  of  Amazement.  He  was  roused  to  fear  and 
a  grim  anxiety.  He  had  the  faithfulness  of  the 
creature  who  elevates  his  master  to  the  rank  of  god 
and  makes  of  service  a  divine  function. 

Frolof 's  son  had  come  himself,  and  as  he  had  tra- 
velled easily  with  great  regard  for  comfort,  he  had 
arrived  last.  He  swore  and  wondered  why  Fate 
should  have  dealt  unkindly  with  him.  The  incom- 
petent always  blame  Fate  or  Circumstance  or  Some 
body  Else. 

But  he  lit  a  fire  in  Belof's  soul. 

A  third  for  his  mistress  !  All  from  St.  Petersburg 
and  all  desirous  to  take  her  there  !  He  began  to 
shake  ^ith  fear.  He  felt  there  was  something  afoot 
which  boded  evil  to  his  beloved  mistress.  He  crept 
to  Frolof  like  a  suppliant  and  begged  for  news,  for 
reasons. 

Frolof  laughed. 

"  Your  mistress,  man,  will  be  married  when  she 
reaches  St.  Petersburg." 

"  Married  .  .  "  It  might  have  been  worse, 
but  did  she  desire  it  ?  If  not  then  there  was  trouble 
in  store  for  her. 

"  Did  she  know  ?  " 


122 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  I  know  not.  The  man  that  got  her  to  St. 
Petersburg  married  her.  It  was  either  Stolemkin 
or  Bulavin  since  I  was  too  unlucky  to  grab  the 
heiress." 

She  did  not  know — She  did  not  know."  He 
moaned  it  like  an  incantation.  He  thought  of  her 
on  the  way  to  St.  Petersburg  to  be  married  to  some 
one  when  she  reached  there.  And  she  did  not 
know  .  .  . 

So  he  begged  Frolof  to  take  him  to  St.  Petersburg. 
He  would  find  plenty  of  provisions  and  his  own 
carriage.  So  Frolof,  being  indolent  and  very  partial 
to  the  consideration  of  outside  forces,  agreed  to 
take  Belof  with  him,  harbouring  at  the  same  time 
the  hope  that  the  presence  of  the  Countess  Puroff's 
steward  would  act  as  a  kind  of  talisman  and  bring 
him  luck.  He  began  to  say  deludingly  to  himself  : 
"  If  I  win  after  all.  If  I  should  snatch  the  bounteous 
prize  from  Stolemkin  ..." 

He  dreamed  easily  and  in  moments  of  hope 
imagined  Providence  was  directing  his  steps. 

On  the  way  to  St.  Petersburg  he  loitered,  as  a 
man  trusting  to  Providence  and  not  to  himself  felt 
quite  entitled  to  do,  and  Belof  groaned.  He  took 
heed  of  nothing.  He  desired  movement :  progress 
was  his  sole  satisfaction.  They  had  not  been  gone 
twelve  hours  on  the  journey  before  Belof  began  to 
look  for  traces  of  his  mistress.  He  had  hopes  that 
they  rright  overtake  her  :  that  she  had  met  with 
some  slight  mishap  and  would  be  very  surprised  to 
see  them. 

At  the  post-houses  Belof  made  inquiries  but  got 
no  satisfaction.    And  they  moved  so  slowly,  the 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  123 


country  seemed  so  big,  the  journey  so  long.  They 
did  not  travel  by  the  road  Gordon  had  taken,  but 
went  circuitously  round  one  forest — fear  in  their 
eyeballs — and  further  to  the  west.  No  wonder 
Frolof  was  last  (and  he  was  always  blaming  his 
luck  !).  He  insisted  on  staying  a  couple  of  days  at 
a  post-house.  He  disliked  constant  travel :  it 
wore  him  out,  gave  him  megrims.  And  the  post- 
houses  were  uninteresting,  unentertaining.  They 
were  just  large  square  wooden  buildings,  with  a 
spacious  courtyard.  Three  sides  of  the  square  were 
appropriated  for  stables  and  sheds  for  carriages  and 
large  barns  for  hay  and  corn.  The  front  of  the 
house  was  given  up  to  the  postmaster  and  his  ser- 
vants and  apartments  for  travellers. 

But  Frolof  was  glad  of  the  little  rest,  gladder, 
perhaps,  of  the  opportunity  to  flirt  with  the  waiting 
wench  and  sorry  to  go.  Belof  fumed  continually 
in  a  despairing  way.  He  prayed  constantly  and 
fixed  an  ikon  in  his  carriage.  But  nothing  would 
move  Frolof  till  he  had  had  his  rest  and  rioting  at 
almost  every  post-house. 

Belof  sickened  at  the  pace.  His  mistress,  he 
knew,  had  been  in  the  capital  long,  long  ago  and 
might  be  married — for  all  he  knew — before  she  was 
warned. 

Taken  away  like  that.  ...  He  recalled  how 
suspicious  he  had  been  of  the  man  who  took  her 
away,  who  said  nothing  clear  that  a  man  or  woman 
could  understand.  Oh  !  there  would  be  trouble 
for  Gordon  if  anything  untoward  had  happened 
to  Melania  Nicholovna. 

So  the  jolting,  the  singing  of  the  postboys,  the 


124  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


stoppages  and  the  panorama  went  on  with  the 
progress  of  the  frivolous  Frolof  and  the  faithful 
Belof. 

That  Belof  was  hugely  tired  in  body  and  mind 
when  he  eventually  arrived  in  St.  Petersburg  the 
reader  will  readily  understand.  He  came  at  a  crucial 
time.  Sofia  was  being  married  to  Count  Stolem- 
kin's  son,  and  from  the  crowd  that  gathered  to  see  the 
great,  Belop  managed  to  glean  the  essential  facts. 
Having  picked  up  stirring  information  he  looked 
wildly  for  his  mistress.  He  rushed  here  and  there ; 
he  craned,  pushed,  was  rudely  repulsed ;  and  all  the 
time  his  heart  was  beating  to  a  tune  wild,  boisterous, 
tempestuous.  "  Melania  Nicholovna  ..."  He 
muttered  the  words  as  one  might  repeat  a  loving 
saying,  the  prayer  of  a  saint,  the  name  of  a 
beloved. 

His  eyes  were  red  with  the  weary  journey  and 
the  anxious  watching,  and  this  tremendous  moment 
made  them  look  wilder  still. 

His  great  red  hair  and  beard  made  him  a  con- 
spicuous figure,  but  he  looked  in  vain  for  his 
mistress.  He  did  not  care  for  bride  or  brides- 
maid, for  ladies-in-waiting,  for  guests,  for  those 
whether  of  high  or  low  degree  who  held  the  attention 
of  the  crowd :  he  looked  simply  for  his  young 
mistress. 

When  the  procession  had  returned  Belof  was 
amazed.  He  had  not  seen  his  mistress  and  looked 
like  one  cheated.  He  was  standing  near  a  sour 
man,  who  never  cheered,  but  grunted  and  swore. 
He  was  one  of  the  Bulavin  forces  and  knew  what 
he  had  missed. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  125 


Belof,  bewildered,  turned  to  him. 

"  What  is  this  ?  "  He  asked  for  the  twentieth 
time,  hoping  to  get  a  different  answer.  Your  dull 
man  is  very  hard  to  convince  against  his  will. 

The  other  man  grunted. 

"A  wedding." 

"  Whose  ?  "  ' 

"  Countess  Puroff  with  Stolemkin's  son." 

"  Countess  Puroff  ?    Oh  !  . . .    Has  she  passed  ?  " 

"  Yes,  passed  just  now.  You  saw  her  well 
enough.    In  white  she  was." 

"  No,  no.    That  was  not  she." 

"  Then  the  devil  take  her — you  too,"  said  the 
man  and  turned  away. 

The  Countess  Puroff  in  white  .  .  .  That  was  not 
Melania  Nicholovna.  He  •  had  seen  the  lady  in 
white  well  enough,  but  she  was  not  the  Countess 
Puroff. 

Belof  was  more  and  more  perplexed.  He  felt 
like  a  straw  tossed  in  the  way,  a  ship  in  the  tempest, 
a  cloud  swirled  in  space. 

He  was  lost  in  this  city  and  his  mistress  was  lost. 
What  had  happened  to  her  ?  He  dropped  on  his 
knees  and  prayed.  The  sight  was  common  enough. 
Primitive  people  are  not  afraid  of  calling  on  their 
God  either  in  public  or  private  :  it  is  in  semi-intel- 
lectual circles  that  Providence  is  treated  as  a  poor 
relative. 

Rising,  Belof  went  in  the  direction  the  carriages 
had  gone.  He  reached  the  house  where  great  gaiety 
prevailed  and  his  storm-tossed  mind  was  singularly 
out  of  place. 

They  were  drinking  wine,  they  were  gossiping. 


126  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


they  were  railling  each  other,  flattering  each  other, 
envying  each  other :  indulging  gentleness  and 
pleasantness  with  gall  and  bitterness,  and  over  and 
above  the  medley,  and  through  it,  there  rang  the 
notes  of  humanity's  comedy,  man's  tragedy.  The 
cymbals  were  like  it  for  noise.  As  to  colour,  it 
was  superb.  The  rainbow  might  have  vied  in 
delicacy,  but  here  was  movement  and  life  breaking 
the  light  and  shade  of  orange  and  gold,  red  and  pur- 
ple, emerald  and  green,  white  and  the  dazzle  of 
jewels. 

Sofia  had  changed  her  white  dress  to  one  of  rose, 
prepared  for  a  journey.  Vasili,  a  being  of  timorous 
nerves  and  vague  ecstasies,  watched  her  every  move- 
ment. Count  Stolemkin  went  from  guest  to  guest 
with  the  air  of  a  conqueror. 

It  was  a  memorable  scene. 

Count  Bulavin  was  there  also,  smiling  to  hide  his 
envy,  wondering  at  Stolemkin's  luck. 

Princess  Nolavof,  of  great  privileges,  was  talking 
to  Count  Bulavin  about  a  couple  of  yards  away  from 
the  bride,  who  was  receiving  some  final  injunc- 
tions and  jocularities  from  her  father-in-law. 

"  Carries  herself  well,"  said  the  Princess. 

"  Not  much  like  her  father,"  said  Bulavin.  "  She 
has  a  chin  that  will  scotch  Anton  Gregorovitch." 

"  Poor  Vasili  Antonovitch  !  "  (She  referred  to 
the  bridegroom.)  "  She  will  do  pretty  well  what 
she  wants." 

'*  As  most  of  you  do.  Princess." 

"  With  the  permission  of  our  lords  and  masters." 

"  Or  without  it.  Would  you  call  Vasili  Antono- 
vitch a  lord  and  master  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  127 


"  The  saints  forbid.  The  little  Melania  Nicholov- 
na  will  lock  him  in  whenever  she  wants  to  go  out." 

"  And  will  that  be  often,  do  you  think  ?  " 

"  It  is  difficult  to  say.  The  men  seem  to  be  decay- 
ing so." 

Just  then  Belof  pushed  his  way  amongst  the 
Count  Stolemkin's  guests.  The  servants  had  let 
him  in  because  he  said  he  was  the  steward  of  Coun- 
tess Puroff  and  they  happened  to  be  almost  drunk. 
He  was  wildly  looking  about  him  for  his  mistress 
and  attracted  the  attention  of  one  or  two  in  his 
vicinity.  He  carried  his  hat  in  his  hand  and  desper- 
ation on  his  face.  His  wild  red  hair  hung  untidily 
about  his  ears.  He  looked  for  a  lady  in  white  and 
muttered,  "  Melania  Nicholovna." 

Count  Stolemkin  saw  him  and  went  to  him. 

"  What  is  it  ?  How  the  devil  did  you  come 
here  ?  " 

"  My  mistress,  Excellency — my  mistress,  Melania 
Nicholovna." 

Stolemkin  grabbed  his  arm  and  pointed  to  Sofia. 
"  There  !      She  is  no  longer  Countess  Puroff 


"  Where  ?  Where  ?  "  asked  Belof,  looking  round. 
There !  " 

"  Where,  Excellency,  where  ?  " 

Stolemkin  pushed  him  to  Sofia. 

"  Now,  do  you  see  her  ?  "  he  said  with  a  grin. 

One  might  as  well  have  grinned  at  Hagar  and 
asked  her  if  she  saw  water. 

Belof  looked  vacantly  round  and  then  at  Stolem- 
kin, who  imagined  a  fool  had  crept  in  his  paradise. 

Sofia  somehow  felt  danger.    Who  was  this  wild- 


128  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


looking  man  ?  What  did  he  want  ?  Why  did 
Count  Stolemkin  say,  "  Now  do  you  see  her  ?  " 

She  reaUzed  the  truth  in  a  flash.  Happy  they 
who  see  things  quickly !  They  have  twice  the 
pleasures  of  other  folks  and  avoid  stumbling- 
blocks. 

She  was  silent  for  a  moment,  for  the  great  de- 
fensive instinct  is  to  lie  still  and  say  nothing ;  but 
that  is  the  way  of  the  weak  and  feeble.  To  pretend 
that  silence  was  golden  here  is  to  salt  the  mine  of 
wisdom.  The  dull  understand  only  after  much 
reasoning,  the  wise  with  a  mere  hint  of  it. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  she  asked  of  Count  Stolemkin, 
stepping  forward. 

"  He  is  a  fool,"  he  whispered.  "  He  wants  you 
and  doesn't  recognize  you."  And  as  he  said  the 
words  a  feeling  of  something  suspicious  came  to 
him. 

But  she  dashed  at  Belof  with — 

"  Why  do  you  come  here  now  ?  " 

He  began  :  "  Excellency,  I  " 

"  That  will  do.  I  cannot  bother  with  you  now. 
Go  !  Go."  She  clutched  his  arm.  "  You  know 
Mr.  Gordon."  He  looked  enlightened :  this  at 
least  was  a  tangible  trace.  "  Go  to  him,"  she  con- 
tinued, "  I  will  send  you  a  message."  She  nodded 
to  her  husband  and  asked  him  to  write  down  Gor- 
don's address  on  a  piece  of  paper.  She  whispered 
ommously  to  Belof  :  "  If  you  talk  to  anybody  here, 
I  will  have  you  flogged." 

He  trembled  and  muttered — 

"  Melania  Nicholovna,"  and  looked  like  a  lamb 
at  a  butcher. 


✓ 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  129 

"  She  is  well/*  whispered  Sofia.  "  But  she  will 
suffer  if  you  do  not  keep  quiet/' 

Vasili  gave  her  the  paper  which  she  handed  to 
Belof  with  the  words  :  "Go  there  at  once  and  say  I 
sent  you." 

Still  bewildered,  Belof  turned.  The  paper  was 
something  :  it  let  him  feel  he  was  on  the  track  of 
his  mistress  and  the  other  lady  said  she  was 
well. 

Sofia  tried  to  keep  cool.  She  felt  spied  on  from 
all  sides.  Her  father-in-law  liked  her  spirit  and 
said  smilingly — 

"  What  is  it,  my  daughter  ?  " 

"  A  stupid,"  she  said.  "  He  had  no  right  to  be 
here.    But  he  has  the  devotion  of  an  animal." 

"  Didn't  recognize  you."    Stolemkin  laughed. 

"  That  is  his  way,"  said  Sofia.  He  is  stupid,  but 
— ^well,  they  are  most  of  them  that." 

Bulavin  and  Princess  Nolavof  had  watched  the 
incident  with  interest. 

What  was  that  ?  "  said  the  Princess,  "farce, 
comedy,  or  tragedy  ?  " 

"  I  wonder,"  said  Bulavin,  "if  it  could  possibly 
contain  the  seeds  of  all  three." 

The  Princess  laughed. 


I 


CHAPTER  XI 


*'  In  love,  the  heavens  themselves  do  guide  the  state ; 
Money  buys  land,  and  wives  are  sold  by  fate." 

— Merry  Wives  of  Windsor. 

AMONGST  the  fascinating  speculations  of  the 
human  race  the  emotions  of  other  people 
occupy  a  prominent  position.  Think  of  it :  the 
man  escaping  from  justice  laid  by  the  heels  just  as 
liberty  was  in  sight — ^what  were  his  feelings  ?  The 
man  who  won  the  unexpected  prize,  the  man  who 
aimed  at  the  stars  and  hit  them  !  the  man  who 
thought  he  was  sinking  and  found  salvation  .  .  . 
It  is  a  gorgeous  amusement,  but  a  little  trying. 
Sofia's  sensations  were  of  an  interesting  nature  as 
she  drove  away  with  her  husband  :  his  also. 

They  were  husband  and  wife.  He  was  more 
than  satisfied.  He  sat  beside  her  with  feelings  too 
sacred  and  too  vague  for  general  expression  and  a 
sense  of  gratitude  dominated  him.  He  was  glad 
to  the  point  of  awe.  It  was  almost  too  sweet  to  be 
real. 

Vasili  Antonovitch,  with  a  hard,  brutal  father, 
had  missed  the  delicacies  of  life  and  had  lived  in 
caves  of  his  own  contriving  so  that  he  might  worship, 
like  the  prophets  in  the  time  of  Elisha,  at  the  altars 
of  his  own  choosing.    It  was  not  so  much  he  lacked 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  131 


manliness  as  that  he  was  dominated  by  a  bully  and 
held  to  ridicule  for  ways  that  were  unpleasing  to  a 
man  with  a  huge  appetite  for  the  coarse. 

And  he  had  feared  marriage,  as  he  had  feared  most 
things.  Novelty  brings  calamity  was  a  popular 
saying  in  Russia  in  those  days,  and  Vasili  grew  to 
shrink  from  all  the  evils  he  knew  not  of.  A  wife 
too  .  .  .  He  was  timid  with  women  even  while  he 
felt  they  were  akin  to  him.  But  the  Court  women 
of  Russia  were  in  a  desperate  hurry  for  success  and 
could  not  dally  with  a  man  who  stammered  over  a 
salutation  and  could  not  pay  a  compliment.  So 
the  idea  of  marriage  made  him  tremble.  The  timid, 
shy  and  nervous  will  understand  him.  He  longed 
and  dared  not.  He  would  give  all  to  do  it  and  for- 
feit his  life  to  avoid  it.  He  would  and  would  not 
and  endured  agonies. 

Yet  Sofia  (with  a  mission)  made  him  comfortable. 
He  walked  easily  with  her.  She  was  not  as  other 
women.  She  did  not  laugh  at  him  or  make  fun  or 
do  the  silly  monkey  and  peacocky  tricks  they  in- 
dulged in.  He  was  at  peace  by  her  side  and  felt 
all  else  well  lost.  But  he  recognized  her  force.  He 
did  not  win  her — that  he  knew.  If  his  father  had 
not  sent  for  her  she  had  not  been  his,  and  yet  he  felt 
proud.  She  did  not  slight  him,  mark  you,  and  she 
had  paid  him  the  delicate,  telling  compliments  that 
charm  a  man  and  make  words  all  bubble  and  froth 
in  comparison — the  compliments  of  confidence, 
trust,  aid,  refuge. 

To  Vasili  this  was  the  gift  of  Heaven.  He  felt 
she  was  a  willing  wife,  and  that  was  enough. 

He  sat  by  her,  darting  glances  of  homage  inces- 


133  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


santly.  His  hands  were  restless  and  he  dared  not. 
His  mouth  longed  and  he  dared  not.  He  knew  other 
men  did  these  things,  and  that  they  were  not  con- 
sidered the  prerogatives  but  the  proper  duty  and 
service  of  men — yet  he  dared  not.  He  felt  he  was 
foolish  and  yet  thanked  Providence.  He  had  enough. 
This  was  his  wife — his  wife  by  his  side. 

As  husband  and  wife  Vasili  and  Sofia  ought  to 
have  had  common  feelings  of  ecstasy  and  joy:  they 
had  gone  through  the  ceremony  that  poets  sing  and 
novelists  so  frequently  end  with.  But  nobody  is 
deluded.  It  is  now  that  the  imaginative  person 
gets  his  chance  and  does  not  fear  contradiction. 
When  you  see  the  beautiful  woman  and  the  hand- 
some man,  or  beauty  and  the  beast,  or  Apollo  and  the 
viper,  or  the  two  very  middling,  who  can  dip  in  their 
hearts  ?  Only  Time.  He  knows,  and,  like  a  wise 
person,  does  not  always  tell. 

Sofia  was  silent  and  pensive.  She  was  married, 
and  somehow  the  marriage  was  not  quite  the  tri- 
umph she  had  dreamed  of.  She  was  satisfied  all 
the  same.  Count  Stolemkin,  the  man  who  had  her 
father  flogged  to  death,  was  cheated  and  fooled  : 
but  the  price  seemed  now  a  little  high.  And  yet, 
do  not  let  us  mislead  ourselves ;  she  was  satisfied. 
Her  husband  was  attentive  and  imobjectionable, 
which  she  found  comforting. 

But  she  thought  of  the  man  with  the  red  hair. 

In  all  their  calculations  they  had  worked  on  the 
assumption  that  nobody  in  St.  Petersburg  at  that 
time  knew  the  Countess  Puroff.  Who  was  this  man 
with  the  dog-like  eyes  and  the  flaming  hair  ?  Sofia 
answered  the  question  by  congratulating  herself  on 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


133 


having  disposed  of  him  before  Count  Stolemkin 
grew  suspicious.  But  now  that  the  ceremony  was 
over  she  saw  the  advisabihty  of  leaving  St.  Peters- 
burg at  the  earhest  possible  opportunity.  This 
visit  to  Peterof  was  a  nuisance,  but  could  not  be 
avoided  because  Ostermann,  the  Chancellor,  had 
put  the  house  at  their  disposal. 

Vasili  whispered — 

"  Sofia." 

"  Yes."    She  answered  coldly  but  quickly. 
"  Are  you  glad  it  is  over  ?  "  he  asked  timidly 
rather  from  desire  of  speech  than  of  information. 
"  Yes." 

He  put  his  hand  on  hers  gently,  but  she  at  once 
put  it  away  with  a  firm,  but  not  rough,  movement. 
He  was  disturbed  at  the  action  and  did  not  dare  to 
speak  for  some  minutes.  She  took  no  notice  of 
him.    Her  thoughts  were  with  her  purpose. 

As  they  neared  the  house  where  they  were  to  stay 
he  grew  nervous  again,  but  she  seemed  so  cool  that 
he  borrowed  virtue  from  her  and  gained  a  little 
confidence.  He  helped  her  down  from  the  carriage, 
but  she  neither  looked  at  him  nor  smiled. 

Marie,  her  maid,  was  there  to  receive  her,  and  came 
forward  curiously,  with  all  the  motley  ideas  of  a 
young  woman  welcoming  a  bride  tossing  themselves 
in  her  silly  mind  like  moths  in  a  flame. 

Sofia  entered  with  a  face  calm  and  serious,  and 
Marie,  impinged  on  romance,  was  disconcerted. 
She  was  chilled  and  began  to  utter  some  hackneyed 
felicitations  in  a  forced  key.  Sofia  stopped  her  with — 

"  Thank  you.  I  understand.  Is  everything 
ready?" 


134  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Yes,  Melania  Nicholovna." 

And  as  soon  as  she  had  got  rid  of  her  cloak  she 
dismissed  the  girl,  who  was  amazed,  thinking  a 
robber's  sister  ought  to  have  been  far  more  demon- 
strative than  this — after  marrying  the  son  of  a  noble. 

Vasili  hovered  about  his  wife  timorously.  He  put 
his  hand  on  her  shoulder  and  would  have  kissed  her, 
but  she  started  at  the  touch  and  blazed  at  the  action. 

"  Do  not  do  that,"  she  said. 

He  found  it  inexplicable  and  felt  chilled. 
Sofia,"  he  muttered,  grief  hovering  about  his 
heart,  "  you  are  my  wife  " 

"  I  know,"  and  she  seemed  to  bethinking  of  some- 
thing else. 

Vasili  knew  husbands  had  rights; 
I  do  not  understand,"  he  muttered. 

"It  is  not  necessary,"  she  replied. 

He  was  bewildered. 

"  But  we  are  married,  Sofia.    Surely  now  

"  I  do  not  know  what  you  want  to  do,  Vasili,  but 
there  is  no  necessity  for  you  to  touch  me.  I  will 
not  allow  it." 

He  was  silent  for  a  moment,  the  situation  in  its 
unexpectedness  robbing  him  of  words.    Besides,  he 
was  a  man  accustomed  to  buffets  and  a  stronger  soul. 
I — love  you,  Sofia,"  he  said  gently. 

She  looked  at  him  curiously  :  a  tinge  of  pity  in 
her  regard.  She  might  so  have  looked  at  a  lamb 
with  a  broken  leg. 

I  am  worried,"  she  said,  and  he  took  it  apologetic- 
ally, which  soothed  him. 

*'  I  am  sorry.    Can  I  do  anything  ?  " 

"  Yes.    I  would  like  to  see  Gordon." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  135 


When  ?  " 
"  At  once." 

"  At  once,"  he  repeated,  a  little  astonished,  and 
he  was  now  quite  confident  that  the  tale  of  his 
marriage  would  surely  be  different  from  the  general 
run.  But  the  odd  had  been  his  portion  always, 
and  it  is  the  leaping  from  one  groove  into  another 
at  the  proper  time  that  shows  our  work. 

"  Yes,"  she  said.      Send  for  him." 

He  was  glad  even  to  do  something  for  her,  not- 
withstanding his  frozen  heart.  So  he  went  out  and 
sent  a  messenger  to  Gordon.  When  he  returned  to 
the  room  Sofia  was  sitting  meditating.  He  said, 
as  if  he  were  at  ease — 
I  have  sent  a  man." 

"  I  hope  he  won  t  be  long.  .  .    Thank  you." 

Then  they  were  silent. 

She  was  perfectly  indifferent.  She  had  the  ease 
and  confidence  of  strength  plus  its  inevitable  egotism. 
And  yet  not  the  egotism  of  the  selfish,  but  the  identi- 
fication of  herself  with  her  schemes  to  the  exclusion 
of  other  persons  and  things.  There  was  no  neces- 
sity for  her  to  please  others. 

Vasili  watched  her. 
I  hope  you  will  like  it  here,  Sofia,"  he  said,  still 
feeling  somewhat  ill  at  ease. 

"  Um — whose  house  is  it  ?  " 

"  Count  Ostermann's." 

"  Is  he  not  some  one  important  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  believe  he  is  High  Admiral.  But 
he  is  a  most  powerful  man." 

"  Where  is  this  ?  " 

"  Peterof." 


136 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Yes.  And  that  ?  '*  She  pointed  to  the  water 
in  the  distance. 

The  Neva.  It  is  where  the  Court  comes  for 
part  of  the  summer,  and  this  is  Count  Ostermann's 
house." 

"  Is  he  rich  ?  " 

"  Very.  But  he  has  had  office  so  long,  and  people 
who  have  offices  always  become  rich." 

"  Or  die,"  she  said  coldly. 

He  laughed  gladly.  He  was  exceedingly  willing 
to  win  her  to  gaiety. 

"  Or  die,"  he  repeated  flatteringly. 

She  did  not  even  smile  :  she  had  made  the  remark 
in  grim  earnestness  with  a  sense  of  its  perfect  truth. 

"  Gordon  is  a  long  time  coming,"  she  said. 

"  I  told  the  man  to  hurry." 

She  walked  up  and  down  the  room,  looking  occa- 
sionally through  the  windows  on  to  the  silver  river 
in  the  distance,  with  more  intimate  sensation  of  the 
wooden  dwelling  on  the  other  side  of  the  Valdai 
Hills  than  she  had  had  since  she  had  been  in  St. 
Petersburg." 

Gordon  was  announced. 

Sofia  turned  to  Vasili. 

"  Will  you  leave  us  a  few  minutes  ?  " 

He  was  not  even  hurt  at  the  suggestion :  he  did 
not  mind  that  his  wife  did  not  take  him  into  her 
confidence  or  tell  him  of  the  things  that  worried  her. 
That  was  her  pleasure  :  let  it  be  his.  He  left  them 
willingly. 

I  congratulate  you — Countess,"  said  Gordon. 
"  It  is  one  thing  done,  at  any  rate.    But  now  we 
must  get  away.    I  want  to  leave  this  cave  without 
delay." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  137 


*'  I  expected  the  messenger  from  your  brother  to- 
day, but  he  has  not  arrived.  The  moment  he 
does,  I  will  let  you  know." 

"  Be  careful.  Have  you  seen  a  red-haired,  red- 
bearded  man  who  has  something  to  do  with  the 
Coimtess  Pur  off — probably  her  servant  ?  " 

Gordon  considered,  then  recalled  him. 

"  Her  steward,  major-domo,  tame  lion,  in  the 
Ukraine." 

"  But  he  has  called  on  you  ?  " 

"  Here— in  St.  Petersburg  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  No." 

"  Then  the  tame  lion  is  loose  and  we  must  be 
prudent." 

She  gave  him  an  account  of  Belof's  visit  to  Count 
Stolemkin's. 

"  It  may  be  serious,"  said  Gordon.  "  These  dog- 
like fools  are  always  barking  at  the  wrong  time. 
You  seem  to  have  got  out  of  the  corner  well — ^Excel- 
lency." 

"  I  don't  worry  about  corners  I  have  got  out  of, 
but  of  those  I  am  in.  I  want  to  get  out  of  this  place 
now.  I  have  given  the  serpent  a  good  long  crawl, 
and  it  is  time  now  he  began  to  feel  the  lash." 

"  I  will  make  preparations  to  go  as  soon  as  you 
wish." 

"  I  wanted  the  villain  to  have  his  fill,  but  now  this 
red-haired  creature  is  in  St.  Petersburg  it  would  be 
better  to  go  away  at  once." 

"  You  say  you  sent  him  to  me  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  I  will  shut  his  mouth/' 


138  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


She  looked  at  him  curiously. 

"  For  ever  ?  "  she  asked  quietly,  as  if  she  under- 
stood that  method. 

No.    I  did  not  think  of  that.    It  is  not  neces- 
sary." 

"  I  did  not  wish  it,"  she  said.  "  I  expect  he  is  a 
faithful  steward  who  has  had  the  good  fortune  not 
to  be  under  the  heel  of  a  Stolemkin.  I  merely  hope 
he  will  not  lead  us  into  danger." 

"  I  will  go  back  at  once  and  wait  for  the  wanderer. 
Once  I  have  him,  I  will  calm  him.  He  can  do  what 
he  likes  once  we  are  clear  of  the  capital." 

Sofia  was  silent.    She  only  spoke  when  she  felt 
inclined.    Gordon  looked  at  her. 

Don't  you  feel  afraid  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Do  you  ?  "  she  retorted. 

"  I  don't  run  the  same  risk." 

"  They  will  break  us  both  on  the  wheel  if  they 
catch  us  when  they  know." 

It  is  a  pleasant  outlook,"  he  said. 

"  Yes,"  she  said  with  fervour.  "  It  is  a  pleasant 
outlook,  Louis  Gordon.  It  is  pleasant  for  me  because 
I  have  played  a  trick  on  that  murderous  villain 
Stolemkin  that  will  make  him  the  laughing-stock  of  * 
St.  Petersburg.  He  will  suffer  from  this  more  than 
he  has  suffered  from  anything  in  his  whole  life." 

"  There  is  nothing  like  ridicule.    By  the  saints  ! 
He  will  be  as  furious  as  a  burnt  bear." 

"  And  after  "  she  nodded  her  head. 

"  More  ?  " 

"  He  flogged  my  father  to  death,"  she  said. 
"  I  don't  think,"  said  Gordon,  "that  your  father 
was  his  only  victim." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  139 


After  a  pause  she  said — 

"It  is  for  that  I  would  Hke  to  stay.  I  want  to 
jeer  at  the  man,  laugh  at  him.  I  understand  those 
people  of  old  who  shouted  at — who  was  it — Sam- 
son ?  " 

"  Yes.  But  there  is  danger  in  delay,  and  it  is  better 
to  live  and  laugh  at  a  distance — than  jeer  too  near 
and  die.    Bears  hug." 

Sometimes,  not  always."  she  said.  "He  is 
worse  than  a  bear." 

"  You  risk  too  much.  I  will  arrange  for  your 
journey,"  said  Gordon,  seeing  her  mood.  "  I  have 
no  desire  to  be  broken  on  the  wheel  for  the  sake  of 
hearing  even  your  jeer,  Sofia  Petrovna." 

"  You  can  prepare,"  she  said.  "  I  am  always 
ready.  Keep  the  poor  steward  quiet.  We  will 
laugh  in  the  woods,  Louis  Gordon,  and  you  will  not 
be  broken  on  the  wheel." 

As  Gordon  was  about  to  go  he  said,  somewhat 
tentatively  :  "  Your  husband  ?  " 

"  Well  ?  " 

"  Well,  wiU  he  come  too  ?  " 
"  I  think  so,"  she  said. 

He  looked  at  her  as  if  he  would  read  more,  but 
she  was  not  one  who  let  herself  be  too  easily 
read. 

"  I  will  prepare  for  him  also,"  he  said,  and  took 
his  leave. 

Vasili  saw  Gordon  go  and  then  came  back  to  his 
wife. 

"  An  important  interview,"  he  said,  with  a  note 
of  gaiety  as  if  he  would  show  that  he  had  perfect 
confidence  in  her  and  could  be  jovial.    He  was,  it 


140  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


must  be  remembered,  in  an  exalted  humour  and 
attempted  the  genial  with  a  timid  and  heavy 
hand. 

"  Yes,"  she  said. 

"  That  Gordon — he  is  a  brave  man,  I  believe. 
My  father  thinks  highly  of  him." 
Sofia  did  not  answer. 

"  When  he  came  for  you,  Sofia — did  you — ^how 
did  you  feel  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  remember." 

"  Not  remember  ?  I  was  anxious  from  the 
moment  I  saw  Gordon  depart  till  the  day  he 
returned." 

"  For  him  ?  " 

He  moved  a  hand  gently  towards  her,  but  she 
saw  the  manoeuvre  and  neatly  made  it  of  none 
effect. 

"  No.    Why  should  I  be  anxious  for  him  ?  No, 

Sofia  "     He  stopped,  hoping  she  would  help 

him  with  more  questions,  but  she  was  silent. 

"  Yes,  I  was  anxious,"  he  continued. 
So  you  said." 

"  But  not  about  him,"  he  added  markedly,  playing 
for  her  assistance. 

"  So  you  said,"  she  repeated. 

"  About  you,  Sofia  " 

"  Hey.  .  .    And  now  ?  " 

"I  am  satisfied.    I  am  more  than  satisfied, 

Sofia  " 

She  stood  up.  A  little  colour  had  come  into  her 
face. 

"  For  God's  sake  be  quiet,"  she  said,  and  she 
walked  away. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


He  looked  at  her  in  amazement  and  wondered 
why  he  was  so  dull  with  women. 

"  Forgive  me,"  he  said  in  a  penitent  tone  a 
moment  or  two  later.  "  I  am  not  clever  with 
women.    I  did  not  mean  to  offend  you,  Sofia/' 

"  You  did  not  offend  me,"  she  said,  "  but  I  do 

not  want  you  to  talk  like  that.    I — I  "  She 

nodded  as  if  she  had  no  more  to  say. 

He  was  glad  she  was  not  hurt  but  found  her 
mystifying.  He  was  nervous  and  scarcely  knew 
whether  to  remain  silent  or  to  make  attempts  at 
conversation  :  but  his  vocabulary  was  now  a  frozen 
affair. 

After  a  while  she  said :  "I  will  go  to  bed." 
He  looked  at  her  strangely. 
"  Good  night,"  she  said  ;  and  when  she  had  shut 
her  door  he  heard  the  key  turn  in  the  lock. 


CHAPTER  XII 


"  There  is  a  lust  in  man  no  charm  can  tame 
Of  loudly  publishing  his  neighbour's  shame." 

— Eleanora  Hervey. 


HE  wise  man,  while  appreciating  big  things 


X  at  their  proper  worth,  does  not  ignore  the 
small.  Where  is  the  poet  who  gloried  in  the  sun 
and  despised  the  dawn  ?  The  child  is  father  of  the 
man  and  springs  are  the  source  of  mighty  rivers. 

Count  Bulavin  was  a  keen  man.  It  was  a  remark 
made  by  Princess  Nolavof  that  stirred  his  curiosity. 
With  feminine  instinct  she  pierced  Sofia's  ignorance 
of  Belof  when  that  desperate  man  pushed  his  way 
into  Stolemkin's  reception.  She  heard  his  moan  for 
Melania  Nicholovna,"  and  expected  to  see  the 
bride  turn  and  recognize  the  man  at  once.  She 
saw,  on  the  contrary,  that  neither  recognized  the 
other.  Sofia's  ignorance  of  Belof  was  patent.  In 
his  case,  though  he  cried  aloud  for  his  mistress,  he 
did  not  notice  her  when  she  stood  near  him. 

"  Odd,"  thought  the  Princess,  and  watched  closely. 
She  considered  the  meeting  odder  still.  Bulavin 
was  by  her  side  and  watching  the  little  drama,  but, 
either  because  he  had  not  caught  the  man's  moan  or 
lacked  the  penetrating  insight,  merely  considered 
the  affair  curious. 


142 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


143 


The  Princess,  having  watched  the  whole  business, 
turned  to  Bulavin. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that  ?  "  she  said. 

"  I  always  look  for  the  unexpected  in  this  place." 

"  Who  is  the  man  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  St.  Peter  take  him  !  He  has  the  air  of  a  lost 
soul." 

"  Seemingly  he  is  lost.    He  searches  for  his 
mistress — Melania  Nicholovna." 
"  And  found  her  in  rose." 
"  No.    He  did  not  seem  to  find  her  at  all." 
"  He  looked  as  if  he  had  been  drinking." 
"  And  she  ?  " 

"  Well,  what  of  her  ?  Do  you  wish  to  suggest  that 
the  bride  had  been  drinking  too  ?  " 

"  She  may  do  that  later,  Nicholas  Dimitrivitch, 
but  she  did  not  recognize  him." 

Bulavin  said  nothing,  for  he  felt  that  the  Princess, 
at  any  rate,  was  discussing  the  matter  seriously. 

"  It  is  very  odd,"  she  continued. 

"  What  do  you  think  ?  "  he  asked  curiously. 

"  She  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  get  rid  of  the 
man  and  sent  him  to  Gordon,  I  think  the  name  was. 
It  seemed  as  if  there  were  something  " 

"  WeU  ?  " 

"  Something  very  unusual  happening." 

It  was  the  last  phrase  that  set  Bulavin  wondering. 

Away  from  the  scene  this  phrase  clung  to  him  as 
an  odd  word  often  will.  Princess  Nolavof  was  a 
shrewd  woman  of  the  world,  and  not  easily  set  now 
on  wild  goose  chases.  Her  attitude,  as  Bulavin 
recalled  it,  was  serious  and  impressive. 
Something  very  unusual  happening." 


144  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Count  Bulavin  had,  of  course,  precious  little  idea 
what  the  unusual  was,  but  he  was  sufficiently  inter- 
ested in  the  marriage  of  Count  Stolemkin's  son  to 
the  Countess  Puroff  to  feel  his  curiosity  aroused  by 
a  hint  of  the  mysterious. 

He  sent  for  Johan  Branui  who  had  made  the  jour- 
ney for  the  Countess  and  come  back  to  receive  curses. 

Branui  came  in  with  a  nod  to  the  ikon  and  one  to 
his  master. 

"  When  you  went  to  visit  the  Countess  Puroff  do 
you  remember  seeing  a  big  man  with  red  hair  and 
beard,  who  seemed  attached  to  her  ?  "  Bulavin 
asked. 

"  Big  man — red  hair  ?    Yes,  Excellency.  And 
saw  him  here  in  St.  Petersburg  to-day." 
"  Ah  !  " 

"  Yes,  Nicholas  Dimitrivitch.  He  was  standing 
near  me — but  he  did  not  recognize  the  Countess." 

"  Not  recognize — his  mistress  ?  " 

"  No,  Nicholas  D.mitrivitch." 

"  Where  did  you  see  him  ?  " 

"  At  Buof,  Excellency.  He  was  the  Countess's 
steward  and  told  us  she  had  gone  away." 

"  Steward  !    Then  he  ought  to  know  her  well." 

"  Yes,  Excellency,  and  he  was  looking  for  her 
anxiously  to-day." 

"  The  devil  take  him  !  Why  did  he  not  recognize 
her  ?    Eh  ?  " 

And  then  Count  Bulavin  began  to  think.  He 
knew  Stolemkin  was  capable  of  tricks  and  dodges 
that  would  amaze  most,  and  the  Countess  Puroff 
was  such  a  prize  that  a  trick  would  be  worth  the 
playing.    But  what  trick  ? 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


And  the  Princess  Nolavof 's  words  came  to  Bulavin 
again  :   "  Something  very  unusual  happening." 
"  Branui,"  he  said. 
"  Yes,  Excellency." 

"  There  is  something  here  I  do  not  understand 
and  I  wish  to  discover  it.  If  we  are  successful,  I 
will  reward  you  :  if  you  blunder,  I  will  have  you 
flogged." 

"  I  will  do  my  duty,  Nicholas  Dimitrivitch." 
"  I  want  it  done  well." 
"  Yes,  Excellency." 

"  Find  this  man.  He  was  sent  to  Gordon — you 
know  him  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Excellency.  He  brought  the  Countess  to 
St.  Petersburg." 

"  Bring  him  to  me — the  red-haired  man,  I  mean." 

"  I  thought.  Excellency,  it  was  curious  when  the 
man  didn't  recognize  his  own  mistress,  till  I  talked 
to  Galopin,  and  he  said  it  meant  that  either  the  man 
was  drunk,  or  that  he  was  not  in  the  service  of  the 
Countess  Puroff,  or  that  there  were  two  Countess 
Puroffs." 

Bulavin  said  nothing.  From  the  mouth  of  babes 
and  foohsh  people  the  right  word  is  sometimes 
uttered. 

Drunk  .  .  .  not  the  Countess's  man  ...  or  two 
Countess  Puroffs.  This  last  suggestion  hinted  at  vil- 
lainy somewhere,  and  where  more  likely  than  in  the 
scheming  brain  of  Count  Stolemkin  ?  Had  he  lost, 
and  was  this  some  desperate  plan  of  his  to  win  ? 

Bulavin  felt  fooled. 

""Branui,"  he  said,  "  go  at  once.  Find  this  man 
or  Gordon— but  Gordon  will  not  tell.    Bring  this 

K 


146  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


man  to  me  or  discover  if  the  person  who  married 
Count  Vasili  Stolemkin  was  really  the  Countess 
Puroff." 

"  Yes,  Excellency." 

Count  Bulavin  wondered  if  he  had  really  alighted 
on  a  deep-laid  plot  of  his  old  friend,  enemy  and 
rival.  Count  Stolemkin.  He  sincerely  hoped  he 
had.    What  a  coup  if  he  had  ! 

"  Something  very  unusual  happening."  He 
blessed  the  Princess  Nolavof  for  the  phrase. 

Branui  was  a  sober  (speaking  generally)  soldier, 
who  had  fought  under  Keith  and  been  glad  of  the 
service  of  Count  Bulavin.  He  knew  Gordon,  and 
St.  Petersburg  in  those  days — 1740 — was  a  city  of 
big  planning  rather  than  of  busy  streets.  The  pros- 
pect was  there  and  Peter  had  looked — as  all  states- 
men should — to  the  future.  It  is  when  the  heads  of 
a  country  live  too  much  in  the  present  that  the 
country  decays.  The  present  is  of  great  value  to 
men  that  are  cut  down  like  grass  ;  states  do  not  die, 
and  for  them  the  future  must  always  be  foreseen. 

It  was  not  very  difficult  to  find  a  man  in  St. 
Petersburg.  Belof  had  been  a  marked  figure  by 
more  than  one  observer,  but  Branui,  catching  fleet- 
ing news  of  him,  went  to  search  for  Gordon.  He  did 
not  find  him  easily,  for  Gordon  just  now  was  not 
desirous  of  making  himself  a  familiar  figure.  But 
Branui  kept  to  the  trail  and  eventually  reaped 
success  (which  waits  at  the  end  of  every  trail !). 

"  Well,  and  what  brings  you  here  ?  "  asked  Gor- 
don, who  had  just  returned  from  his  interview  with 
Sofia  and  wished  no  further  meddling  in  his  affairs. 
Nothing,  my  friend,  of  any  seriousness." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  147 


"  Thank  your  skin  for  that,  Johan  Branui.  I 
am  not  in  a  mood  to  welcome  people  who  come  seri- 
ously. The  world  goes  upside  down  at  times, 
bumpety-bump,  and  you  scarcely  know  whether 
you  are  going  north,  south,  east,  west,  to  heaven  or 
hell.  There  are  prizes  and  scorpions  about,  only 
once  again,  Branui,  tell  me  why  you  have  come  to 
see  me,  for  if  it  is  for  anything  more  than  to  look 
at  my  face  and  ask  after  my  pulse  I  shall  be  tempted 
to  drop  you  in  the  Nev?*  " 

Branui  laughed. 

"  Just  to  see  and  congratulate  you,  Louis  Alexan- 
drovitch." 

"  Congratulations,  pourquoi,  my  friend,  warum, 
why  ?  " 

"  The  Countess  Puroff." 

"  Again,  Branui ;  don't  go  skipping  round  the 
garden ;  why  congratulate  me  concerning  the  Coun- 
tess Puroff  ?  " 

"  I  was  after  her  too,  you  know." 

"  You  are  a  generous  man.  Did  Count  Bulavin 
pay  you  well  ?  " 

"  Not  so  well  as  if  I  had  got  her." 

"  Hell  of  a  journey,  eh  ?  " 

'*  Pouf !  Do  you  remember  the  red-haired 
steward  ?  " 

Gordon  looked  at  him  for  a  moment  before  he 
spoke. 

"  Red-haired  steward  ?  " 

"  Yes,  big  man,  hair  all  over  him  except  on  his 
eyes  and  lips  and  nose  :  had  some  on  his  nose  too,  I 
fancy." 

"  Eh  !    And  what  about  him  ?  " 


148  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  He  is  in  St.  Petersburg/' 
"  Is  he  indeed  ?  " 
"  I  saw  him." 

"  What  did  you  talk  about  ?  Ask  him  how  his 
hair  was  ?  or  if  he  would  sell  you  any  ?  " 

Branui  laughed.  He  was  not  quite  sure  of 
Gordon's  move. 

I  just  saw  him — that  was  all/' 

"  The  sight  was  enough,  eh  ?  " 

"  He  is  a  man  you  can't  miss,  Louis  Alexandro- 
vitch." 

But  you  can  miss  him.  I  have  missed  him.  I 
should  like  to  shake  old  carrots  by  the  hand  again 
with  pleasure,  but  I  have  missed  him,  Johan  Branui/' 

"  Ah  !    He  has  not  been  here,  then  ?  " 

"  Are  you  anxious  to  know  ?  " 

"  Not  now.    I  know.  . 

There  was  a  pause  in  the  conversation,  for  Gordon 
was  wondering  why  this  man  had  called  on  him  at 
this  particular  time  and  talked  about  Belof.  And 
Branui,  finding  the  man  he  sought  was  not  there, 
was  eager  to  go  away. 

"  Johan  Branui,"  said  Gordon,  "  you  came  here 
for  a  purpose." 

"  To  see  you." 

"  Why  ?  Not  for  my  beauty,  nor  my  wealth,  nor 
my  health,  nor  my  prosperity,  for  save  that  my  arm 
is  still  good  and  lusty,  I  have  precious  little  else  to 
boast  of." 

"  For  friendship." 

"  That  be  damned,  Branui.  You  have  had  to 
ask  every  three  copeks'  worth  of  humanity  you  met 
where  the  devil  that  Gordon  lived,  and  you  want  to 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  149 


tell  me  you  did  it  for  friendship  to  a  man  who  has 
just  robbed  you  of  a  prize.  Fie  !  pish  !  likewise 
tush  !  Johan  Branui.  I  will  give  you  till  you  have 
had  time  to  mention  your  father  and  mother  and 
a  short-named  saint  or  two,  and  then,  if  you  are  still 
of  opinion  that  you  came  to  see  how  my  boots  went 
on  my  feet  or  my  shirt  clung  to  my  back  and  my 
health  and  welfare  were  generally,  I  will  try  the 
effect  of  a  blow  direct  from  the  shoulder  on  your 
Pharisaic  face.  I'll  count  five,  so  that  will  give  you 
a  chance  to  decide  whether  you  came  here  as  a  spy 

or  a  friend.    One — two  " 

Branui  withdrew.  He  gave  a  gesture  of  hope- 
lessness. 

"  It  is  not  worth  while,"  he  said,  and  was  gone 
before  Gordon  could  reach  him. 

But  the  interview  stirred  both  of  them.  The 
fact  was,  Belof's  arrival  in  St.  Petersburg  had  seem- 
ingly stirred  a  great  many  people  and  set  things 
unusual  happening. 

Branui  did  his  best  to  hunt  down  Belof.  He 
followed  up  clues  wherever  he  found  them,  but  did 
not  manage  to  lay  hands  on  his  man. 

Belof  was  wandering  about  like  a  man  bereft.  He 
was  by  this  time  convinced  that  something  dreadful 
had  happened  to  his  mistress,  and  he  found  his  way 
about  St.  Petersburg  only  with  difficulty.  Gordon 
was  with  Sofia  when  Belof  called,  and  the  worried 
man  wandered  afterwards  like  a  person  who  is  lost 
and  knows  no  harbour. 

Branui,  wishing  to  let  his  master  know  how  he 
had  fared,  returned  to  Count  Bulavin  and  told  him 
of  the  interview  with  Gordon. 


150  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


The  Count  was  not  surprised  at  Gordon's  atti- 
tude, for  he  had  begun  to  suppose  that  if  Stolemkin 
had  been  indulging  in  a  trick,  Gordon  was  a  party 
to  it. 

"  Who  else  ?  "  he  said  to  Branui,  could  know 
anything  about  the  Countess  Puroff  ?  " 

Stolemkin's  men  were  ruled  out :  they  would 
either  know  nothing  or  be  forced  to  keep  silence. 

Branui  was  not  a  thinker. 

Bulavin  himself  hit  on  the  maid. 

"  She  must  know,"  he  said.  "  If  we  can  get  hold 
of  her  she  will  know  the  trick,  Branui." 

"  Yes,  Excellency." 

"  Get  hold  of  the  maid.  Tempt  her.  Some 
maids  are  tempted  with  one  thing,  some  with  an- 
other— you  can  tempt  the  maid  of  the  Countess 
Puroff,  now  the  wife  of  Count  Stolemkin's  son,  with 
whatever  you  like,  so  long  as  you  bring  her  to  me." 

"  Do  you  know  where  she  is,  Excellency  ?  " 

"  I  imagine  she  is  in  Count  Ostermann's  house  at 
Peterof." 

"  If  temptation  will  lure  a  maid,  Nicholas  Dimitri- 
vitch,  I  will  lure  this  one." 

"If  ...  "  repeated  Bulavin  with  a  grin. 


CHAPTER  XIII 
Fooled  !— What  a  word  !  " 

BELOF  wandered  disconsolately.  He  was  like 
a  howling  dog  that  must  be  silenced  with 
satisfaction.  He  was  convinced  that  calamity  was 
the  portion  of  his  mistress,  and  he  sought  to  relieve 
her.  The  possession  of  social  virtues,  one  sees,  is 
good  for  the  community  but  sometimes  troublesome 
for  the  possessor.  Belof's  faithfulness  was  worry- 
ing him  uncommonly.  Had  he  been  a  careless 
servant  he  had  feasted  and  drunk  at  Buof  to  the 
satisfying  of  his  body  and  the  content  of  his  mind. 
Instead  he  ran  St.  Petersburg  like  one  knowing 
no  rest.  He  accomplished  more  than  he  imagined, 
as  most  of  us  do,  whether  for  good  or  ill — that  is 
the  question.  Zeal  may  be  the  secret  of  success ; 
it  is  also  the  parent  of  indiscretion.  Belof  talked, 
asking  too  many  for  the  Countess  Puroff. 

He  returned  to  Stolemkin's  house,  for  every  finger 
pointed  there.  When  he  tried  a  second  time  to  enter, 
the  lackeys  laughed  at  him  and  pitched  him  out. 
This  opposition  seemed  to  him  ample  confirmation 
of  the  idea  either  that  his  mistress  was  held  a 
prisoner  in  this  house,  or  it  was  here  he  must  find 
news  of  her,  and  he  grew  wilder  with  the  idea  and 

151 


132  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


opposition  at  the  gate.  The  lackeys  laughed  at 
his  vehemence  as  well  as  at  his  hair,  which  was  an 
uncomely  sight,  especially  as  savage  eyes  glared  from 
underneath  the  bushy  red  eyebrows.  Laughter  only 
kills  the  sensitive.  Belof  demanded  muscle  and 
cudgels.  The  men  at  the  gate  in  a  moment  of  laxity 
allowed  him  to  secure  a  stout  stick  and  have  an 
opportunity  to  use  it.  One  of  the  lackeys  was 
knocked  senseless  and  the  ricochet  made  the  other 
respectful. 

Belof  darted  inside 

Count  Stolemkin  was  drinking,  and  not  in  a  bad 
1  UTiour.  The  world  had  seemingly  dealt  very  well 
with  him.  He  had  had  his  triumph  in  St.  Petersburg 
society  and  established  the  wealth  of  his  family 
successfully.  He  knew  he  was  regarded  with  envy 
by  his  equals  and  with  respect  by  his  superiors. 
He  drank  to  himself.  But  this  he  did  constantly,  for 
it  was  the  custom  of  the  age. 

Belof  peeping  in  at  the  door,  saw  the  great  man 
seated  in  comfort. 

"  Gospodi  Promilui/'  he  muttered — Lord  have 
mercy  upon  me. 

Stolemkin's  pale,  cold,  staring  blue  eyes  were  not 
exactly  welcoming. 

Belof  crossed  himself  and  dropped  on  his  knees. 

"  Excellency,  I  seek  my  mistress,  Melania  Nicho- 
lovna.  Countess  Piuroff." 

Stolemkin  looked  superlatively  disdainful. 

"  You  ungodly  weed  !  "  he  said.  Are  you  the 
kind  of  thing  that  grows  on  a  muck  heap  or  in  the 
desert  ?  What  do  you  want  now  ?  Begone  before 
I  have  you  thrashed.    Do  you  hear  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  153 


"  Excellency,  my  mistress  " 

"  Why  the  devil  do  you  come  here  ?  You  have 
seen  your  mistress  once  and  she  sent  you  away.  If 
you  bring  any  of  your  dirt  and  madness  here  Til 
make  you  remember  it  as  long  as  you  have  a  skin  to 
feel." 

"  Forgive  me,  Excellency."  Belof  almost  crawled. 

'*But  I  have  not  seen  my  mistress  since  she  went 
away  with  Mr.  Gordon  " 

"  You  liar  !  You  pock-faced  beast  of  the  earth  ! 
I  pushed  you  on  your  mistress's  feet  not  twenty-four 
hours  ago."  Stolemkin  got  up  and  seized  Belof  by 
the  throat.  Now  lie  to  me,  will  you  ?  "  and  he 
smote  him  on  the  ear. 

"  Excellency,  Excellency  !  I  will  crawl  for  you, 
labour  night  and  day  for  you  if  you  will  help  me  to 
find  my  mistress  " 

"  Well !  " 

Stolemkin  hardly  knew  whether  to  be  furious  or 
amused.    Was  the  man  drunk,  mad,  or  what  ? 
He  let  him  go  and  asked  quietly — 
"  Countess  Puroff  ?  " 
"  Yes,  Excellency,  Melania  Nicholovna." 
"  Are  you  mad  ?  " 

"  No  !  no  !  Excellency.  Try  me.  Ask  me  any- 
thing. I  have  come  from  Buof  to  tell  my  mistress 
that  " 

"  What  ?  " 

"  She  went  away  with  Mr.  Gordon,  and  after  she 
went  others  came  for  her,  and  now  I  fear  and  I  can- 
not find  her.  Oh  !  The  saints  in  heaven  preserve 
her  !    Oh,  God  !  protect  her  " 

"  You  are  mad  !  " 


154  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  No,  no.  Ex  " 

"  Be  quiet !  "  thundered  Stolemkin.  "  Stop  your 
praying  and  your  snivelling  and  your  antics.  Come 
here." 

Belof  obeyed. 

Stolemkin  looked  at  him  critically.  He  could  not 
imderstand  the  man. 

"  You  look  sober." 

"  Yes,  yes.  Excellency  " 

"  Be  quiet.  And  you  really  come  from  Buof  after 
your  mistress."  Then  a  light  seemed  to  dawn  on  him. 
"  My  God  !  "  he  said  with  a  shiver  and  a  terrible 
emotion  of  wrath.  "  I  showed  you  somebody 
yesterday  who  spoke  to  you  and  told  you  to  go 
somewhere  ;  who  was  that  lady  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  Excellency." 

"  Don't  know,  by  God  !  But  it  was  the  Countess 
Puroff,  your  mistress,  was  it  not  ?  "  Stolemkin 
was  feeling  very  cold  and  very  hot  now. 

"  No,  Excellency.  I  had  never  seen  that  lady 
before.    She  is  not  my  mistress." 

The  scales  were  off  Stolemkin's  eyes  now.  He 
did  not  jump  to  conclusions  :  he  was  too  heavy 
a  man  to  dart  at  the  heart  of  anything;  but  he 
realized  that  something  was  wrong ;  either  this 
man  was  mad,  or  a  most  diabolical  trick  had  been 
played  on  him.    He  looked  at  Belof  again. 

"  If  you  are  lying  "  he  said,  catching  the  poor 

man  by  the  throat  and  shaking  him  in  his  wrath, 
while  his  eyes  blazed  savagely  and  threatened  a 
punishment  too  terrible  for  coherence. 

But  Belof  had  the  air  of  simplicity.  There  was 
faithfulness  in  all  his  ways  and  devotion  in  his  method. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  155 


"  I  do  not  lie.  Before  God  and  the  saints  I  do 
not  lie,  Excellency."  He  dropped  on  his  knees  and 
crossed  himself. 

I  do  not  understand,"  said  Stolemkin  quietly, 

feeling  hard  hit.    "  But  when  I  do          You  say  the 

lady  you  saw  here  yesterday  was  not  your  mistress ; 
then  what  did  she  tell  you  ?  Be  careful  now.  I 
heard  her  speak  to  you." 

"  She  told  me  to  go  to  Mr.  Gordon,  Excellency." 

*'  Gordon,  eh.  He  has  sold  me.  Gordon,  eh  ? 
and  perhaps  Bulavin  has  the  real  Countess  " 

Count  Stolemkin  felt  at  discord  with  the  world.  In- 
stead of  being  a  fine  man  of  big  proportions  grasping 
prosperity  and  the  blessed  things  of  life  with  both 
hands,  he  stood  a  limp,  hollow  creature,  the  sport  of 
others,  empty-handed,  ridiculous. 

Rage  came  to  the  rescue.  It  is  better  to  feel 
angry  than  insignificant. 

Yet  he  could  scarcely  assimilate  all  he  imagined. 
He  looked  at  Belof  as  if  he  would  test  him,  and  the 
red-headed  man  seemed  like  a  faithful  animal 
waiting  for  a  sign. 

"  What  does  it  mean  ?  "  said  Stolemkin  to 
himself,  afraid  of  the  calamity.  "  She  sent  you  to 
Gordon,  eh.  The  devil  Gordon.  .  .  .  Have  you 
been  ?  " 

"  I  could  not  find  him,  Excellency." 

"  Could  not  find  him.  But  I  will  find  him.  I 
will  pull  his  eyes  from  their  sockets ;  I  will  reduce 

the  villain  to  pulp  "  He  stopped  and  wondered  if 

Bulavin  or  Frolof  knew.  He  felt  as  if  he  had  fallen 
into  Purgatory. 

He  examined  and  cross-examined  Belof,  shook  him, 


156  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


kicked  him,  and  was  ultimately  convinced  there  was 
something  so  wrong  that  it  might  make  him  the 
laughing-stock  of  the  Court. 

"  We  will  find  this  Gordon,"  he  said. 

He  went  out  armed,  with  three  of  his  men  and 
Belof .  He  was  in  a  mood  to  strike  down  anybody 
who  had  contributed  to  his  discomfiture.  Able  as 
Gordon  was,  it  is  likely  he  would  have  fared  badly 
at  the  hands  of  Stolemkin  and  his  bullies  if  they  had 
met  at  that  moment.  But  chance  can't  afford  to 
let  things  happen  with  the  precision  of  the  tides. 
Gordon,  disturbed  by  Sofia  and  Branui,  was  trying  to 
find  Glebof's  men  to  arrange  for  the  speedy  with- 
drawal from  St.  Petersburg.  (Chance  was  having 
a  finger  in  that  pie  too  !) 

Stolemkin  waited  a  little  while  and  then  decided 
to  visit  Sofia.  It  would  be  relishable  to  have  the 
truth  from  the  woman's  lips,  and  he  began  to 
speculate  on  his  price. 

The  woman.  .  .  And  he  had  paid  her  such  atten- 
tion !  Flattered  her  so  !  How  he  cursed  her  !  The 
Countess  Puroff .  .  .  Who  the  devil  was  she  ?  And 
what  was  she  ?  .  .  .  But  she  would  pay.  Yes,  he 
would  get  satisfaction  from  her.  She  would  pay. 
She  would  repent  trying  to  fool  Count  Stolemkin. 
But  what  a  daring  fiend.  ...  It  was  so  daring 
that  he  began  to  doubt  Belof.  Not  Countess 
Puroff  ...  Ah  !  well,  Belof  and  the  woman  would 
be  confronted  and  then  the  truth  would  soon  come 
out. 

It  was  a  swampy  journey  and  one  not  likely  to 
charm  the  senses  of  any  man.  Peterof ,  with  its  out- 
look on  the  Neva,  was  pleasanter  than  the  capital. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  157 


but  the  roads  were  bad,  and  to  a  man  in  Stolemkin's 
mood  few  things  have  the  gift  of  pleasing. 

He  felt  as  he  entered  the  gate  of  Ostermann's 
house  that  he  was  breaking  in  on  a  honeymoon  in 
a  singular  mood.  Honeymoon — the  very  idea  was 
food  for  his  rage.  He  still  doubted  Belof  and  trusted 
him  by  turns.    The  tale  was  so  preposterous.  .  .  . 

Sofia  gazing  through  the  window  saw  him  first  and 
wondered. 

"  Your  father/'  she  said  to  Vasili,  who  was 
looking  a  dejected  figure  at  the  other  end  of  the  room. 

Vasili  did  not  know  whether  the  visitor  was 
welcome  or  not.  It  certainly  broke  the  strained  life 
he  felt  he  was  living  with  his  wife.  She  did  not 
seem  to  worry  much.  He  looked  at  his  wife  and 
imagined  he  caught  a  look  of  anxiety  on  her  face. 
My  father/'  he  said,  and  ran  to  the  window. 

Sofia  thought  the  visit  ill-timed  and  quickly  her 
mind  ran  to  suppositions.  Vasili  turned  now, 
noticed  clearly  her  preoccupation,  and  imagined 
it  was  on  account  of  the  action  she  had  taken  with 
respect  to  himself  and  feared 'the  anger  of  his  father. 
Our  egotism  will  not  be  stifled. 

So  Vasili,  caring  for  his  wife,  did  not  wish  she  should 
be  treated  with  contumely  and  abuse  such  as  his 
father  was  capable  of  bestowing,  and  yet  for  his 
own  sake  felt  a  slight  admonition  might  be  service- 
able and  desirable. 

Count  Stolemkin  came  in  alone  and  saw  the  couple 
cold  and  anxious.  He  gave  no  greeting — at  least, 
not  one  of  courtesy  and  gladness.  He  stood  like 
a  man  surveying  a  prize,  contemplating  booty,  one 
in  a  moment  of  shrieking  triumph. 


158  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  MelaniaNicholovna."  He  said  the  words  with 
an  unction  so  unusual  that  Vasili  was  surprised 
exceedingly.  His  father  in  this  mood  !  It  suggested 
presents  and  the  giving  of  things. 

Sofia  looked  and  bowed  quietly.  She  said  nothing. 
There  are  women  who  can  incase  themselves  in 
silence  as  the  earth  is  protected  by  its  atmosphere ; 
and  they  are  very  difficult  women  to  handle. 

You  answer  to  the  name,"  said  Stolemkin  with 
a  leer  that  was  easily  seen  through. 

Vasili  looked  at  his  father  and  wife.  Sofia 
assumed  a  smile  of  ease  which  contained  a  sneer. 

"  Well  ?  "  he  said  annoyingly. 

Sofia  did  not  reply. 
Melania  Nicholovna — a  pretty  name,  eh  ?  " 

Still  no  answer. 

"  Well,  can  you  say  nothing  ?  "  he  shouted. 

"  To  those  who  speak  with  courtesy.  You  are 
drunk,"  she  said  quietly. 

"  Drunk,  am  I  ?  You  dare  tell  me  that — you.  .  . 
Say  I  am  drunk,  do  you  ?  You  will  wish  you  had 
caught  me  drunk  and  kept  me  drunk  before  we  have 
finished  with  one  another,  my  beauty." 

Sofia  turned  her  back  on  him,  shrugging  her 
shoulders. 

Vasili,  amazed,  looked  at  father  and  wife  and 
could  scarcely  credit  the  scene.  His  father  was — 
yes,  he  believed  he  must  be  drunk. 

"  Melania  Nicholovna."  It  seemed  as  if  he  had 
great  pleasure  in  repeating  the  words,  as  doubtless 
he  had,  since  he  imagined  he  brought  his  charge 
to  Sofia  by  the  mention  of  them.  "  Since  when  have 
you  been  Melania  ?  "  Stolemkin  asked. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  159 


"  My  father  "  began  Vasili,  but  the  big  Count 

whirled  his  arm  round  furiously  and  bawled,  "  Be 
quiet,  fool !  I  am  here  for  your  sake  as  well  as 
my  own." 

Vasili  looked  at  his  wife  as  if  the  next  move  lay 
with  her. 

She  was  not  afraid.  She  was  moreover  wondering 
whether  the  opportunity  was  not  a  good  one  to 
carry  the  war  into  the  enemy's  camp  and  hurl  her 
weapons. 

"  This  is  a  pleasant  visit,"  she  said. 

"  Pleasant,  is  it  ?  I  am  glad  you  like  it,  because 
there  will  be  a  few  more  pleasanter  things  yet  for  you 
to  go  through — Melania  Nicholovna." 

Sofia  made  no  reply. 

"  The  Countess  Puroff,  daughter  of  Count  Puroff — 
you  are  Count  Puroff 's  daughter  ?  " 

"  Since  you  have  insisted  on  marrying  me  to  your 
son,  the  world,  I  fancy,  will  think  you  should  know 
that." 

He  glared  at  her. 

"  You  will  look  pretty  with  your  tongue  cut  out/' 
he  said. 

It  would  be  a  pity  to  cut  out  yours,"  she 
retorted.    "  You  can  put  it  to  such  noble  use." 

"  Liar  !  "  he  said.      You  har  !  " 

"  Father."    It  was  Vasili  who  interrupted. 

Count  Stolemkin  turned  to  him  quickly. 

"  A  low,  common  liar — ask  her  who  she  is." 

"  My  wife,"  said  VasiU  quickly  and  with  spirit. 

"  Bah  !  She  will  be  no  wife  of  yours  long,  my 
son." 

"  No  wife  of  mine  ?  " 


i6o  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


No.  Ask  her  who  she  is.  She  says  she  is  the 
daughter  of  Count  Puroff  " 

"  You  said  that,"  she  interjected  quickly.  "  It 
was  you  who  told  everybody  of  my  estates,  and  my 
timber  and  my  fish  and  my  serfs.  You  will  remem- 
ber your  boasts,  Anton  Gregorovitch."  She  was 
warming  to  the  theme  and  the  moment. 

Vasili  was  perplexed,  uncomprehending. 

*'  You  admit  quickly,  you  baggage." 

"  I  admit  you  are  offensive :  but  I  presume  it 
is  your  nature,  and  I  overlook  the  offence  of  swine." 
Do  you  admit  you  are  a  liar  ?  " 

"  I  say  you  are  a  rogue  and  bully  and  fiend  all 
in  one." 

"  By  God  !    Belof !    Hi.  .  .    Come  here  !  " 

Belof  entered.  Sofia  recognized  him  and  knew 
the  fight  had  commenced  in  earnest. 

"  Is  that  your  mistress  ?  "  said  Stolemkin,  pointing 
to  Sofia. 

Belof  crept  a  step  nearer — then  looked  round. 
He  wanted  another  woman  :  his  mistress. 
"  That  lady,  Excellency." 
"  Lady   ^yes,  that." 

*'  No,  Excellency.  Not  that  lady.  That  is  not 
my  mistress." 

"  And  your  mistress  is  Countess  Puroff  ?  " 
"  Yes,  Excellency." 

Have  you  ever  seen  this — ^woman  at  Buof  ?  " 

No,  Excellency." 
"  Did  Gordon  take  her  from  there  ?  " 

No,  Excellency." 
"  That  will  do.    Wait  outside." 
When  Belof  had  retired  Stolemkin  assumed  the 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  i6i 


attitude  of  a  man  who  had  removed  preliminaries 
from  his  path  and  is  now  ready  for  desperate 
work. 

"What  a  piece  of  damned  fraud  you  are  !  You 
heard  the  man  Belof,  Vasili  ?  He  is  Countess 
Piuroff's  steward  and  has  come  to  find  his  mistress 
This  baggage  has  palmed  herself  off  on  you  as 
Countess  Puroff ;  do  you  understand  ?  " 

Vasili  was  certainly  beginning  to  understand. 

'Ts  this  true?  "  he  asked  his  wife  quietly. 

She  did  not  answer. 

"Sofia  ..." 

Still  she  was  silent. 

"Will  you  not  tell  me  ?  "  he  asked. 

"She  will  not,  because  she  dare  not,"  shouted 
Stolemkin.  "She  is  some  rag-tag  from  the  byways 
that  has';]thrust  herself  on  us  for  a  purpose.  But 
she  shall  be  flogged  and  you  must  divorce  her  at 
once. 

"Divorce, "  murmured  Vasili,  looking  at  his  wife 
"Yes,  divorce.     What  creature  is  it  you  have 

married  ?    Some  slut  " 

"  Father  !  " 

"  By  Heaven !  I'll  floor  you  if  you  dare  to  say  a 
word  to  defend  a  shameless  liar  like  that  ?  " 

"I  wonder,  "said  Sofia,  speaking  quietly,  as  if 
she  had  made  up  her  mind  to  go  through  with  a 
desperate  venture,  "  what  the  Court  will  say.  .  .  . 
What  will  Princess  Nolavof  and  Count  Bulavin  and 
all  the  other  people  say,  eh.  Count  Stolemkin  ?  " 

He  looked  at  her  in  amazement. 

"She  is  a  great  prize — Countess  Puroff,"  con- 
tinued Sofia. 

L 


i62  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 

It  was  Stolemkin*s  turn  for  amazement  now. 
No  one  can  foretell  his  next  emotion. 

Vasili  was  dulled  to  some  extent  by  the  inextricable 
tangle  of  his  sensations.  He  loved  Sofia,  and  she 
was  a  fraud.  And  now  she  showed  a  courage  that  he 
had  rarely  if  ever  dared  to  display  before  his  father. 
And  courage  in  the  vilest  will  rouse  almost  universal 
admiration :  courage  in  a  loved  one  bids  ecstasy 
arise. 

"  What  the  devil  do  you  mean  ?  "  said  Stolemkin. 

I  wonder  you  dare  hold  your  head  up." 

'*  Estates  in  Livonia,  Revel,  Ukraine  and  Moscow. 
Jewels  to  surprise  a  Court ;  wood  " 

"  By  God  !  woman,  do  you  know  you  will  be 
flogged  for  this  ?  " 

"  But  I  shall  hear  you  laughed  at  first." 

"  You  viper  !    you  scum  " 

"  You  almost  made  love  to  me  yourself,  Anton 
Gregorovitch.  You  remember  you  said  it  was 
almost  a  pity  to  waste  my  figure  on  Vasili —  " 

"  There  is  one  consolation  :  you  will  lose  your 
tongue.    They  cut  them  out  of  the  mouths  of  liars." 

And  let  them  grow  in  boaster's,  to  have  a 
double  dose  of  fun,  eh  ?  " 

"  I'll  flog  you  myself,  you  gipsy  baggage.  Who 
are  you  and  what  are  you  ?  " 

He  was  amazed  at  her  defiance. 

She  hesitated  a  moment  as  if  she  considered  her 
action.  But  she  was  warmed  to  the  business.  She 
was  encouraged  by  the  excitement  of  the  moment  and 
nerved  by  a  reckless  disregard  of  consequences, 
engendered  probably  by  her  life  in  the  woods. 

Count  Stolemkin  moved  restlessly  as  he  spoke.  He 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  163 


came  near  to  her,  walked  away,  advanced  towards 
her  savagely,  turned  his  back  on  her,  while  his 
hands  and  arms  moved  restlessly. 

Sofia,  on  the  contrary,  was  very  composed  in  her 
attitude.  She  rarely  stirred  and  never  once  looked 
at  her  husband. 

Vasili  had  looked  from  father  to  wife,  but  now 
fixed  his  gaze  on  Sofia.  She  fascinated  him.  He 
could  not  understand.  He  really  did  not  mind  that 
she  was  not  Countess  Puroff  with  the  estates,  and 
jewels  and  wood  and  fish  and  serfs,  of  which  he  had 
heard  so  much.  She  was  what  she  was  and  he 
loved  her. 

"  The  son  of  Count  Stolemkin,"  she  said,  "  was  to 
make  a  brilliant  match.  .  .  .  I  will  tell  you  who  I  am/' 
She  paused. 

'*  Get  on,  you  miserable  creature  !  " 

"  I  shall  go  fast  enough,  Anton  Gregorovitch,  I 
feel  sure.  Baggage  you  call  me."  She  shrugged 
her  shoulders.  "  Slut,  eh  ?  "  She  flushed  a  little. 
"  You  are  used  to  hogwash,  you  swine  ! 

He  looked  as  if  he  would  strike  her,  and  Vasili 
trembled  like  a  leaf  in  the  breeze.  But  he  checked 
himself. 

"  You  will  rue,  madam.    By  God  !  you  will  rue." 

But  not  half  so  much  as  you.  Count  Butcher. 
You  shall  know  who  I  am  and  why  I  came  to 
St.  Petersburg  and  entered  your  foul  slaughter  house. 
"  Do  you  remember  your  steward — Glebof  ?  "  He 
did  not  answer.  "  One  victim  more  or  less  is. 
nothing  to  you,  eh  ?  But  he  was  an  honest  man, 
and  kind  and  good,  that  I  know." 

A  fool  and  a  rogue,"  he  muttered. 


i64  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Neither — you  lie."  It  was  the  first  time  she 
had  raised  her  voice. 

"  Let  him  rest  and  get  on  with  your  tale/'  he  said. 

"  Let  him  rest/'  she  repeated.  You  sent  him  to 
his  rest ;  do  you  remember  ?  He  was  flogged  to 
death  while  you  stood  by ;  do  you  remember  ? 
Well,  I  mean  to  repay  some  of  those  stripes.  You 
shall  feel  what  it  is  to  suffer.  Now  you  may  know 
who  I  am.  I  know  you  w^ill  wTithe  and  squirm  and 
curse  and  rage  when  all  your  friends  know  what  has 
happened.  It  is  my  turn  now,  you  butcher. 
I  hid,  but  you  will  never  hide  the  sight  from  my  eyes, 
while  you  cruelly  killed  my  father  " 

"  Your  father,  Glebof." 

"  Yes,  I  am  the  daughter  of  Peter  Glebof." 

"  A  clod.  The  daughter  of  a  clod.  Earth, 
dung — do  you  learn  what  you  have  married,  my 
son  ?    This  is  the  offal  you  have  got  for  a  wife  ?  " 

"  Father,  do  not  call  her  that."  Vasili  was 
learning  courage  from  his  wife. 

"  I  determined  to  level  you,  Butcher,"  said  Sofia. 
"  I  came  to  St.  Petersburg  to  marry  your  son  to 
spite  you." 

"  Sofia  !  "  said  Vasili  with  a  groan. 

"  Be  damned  to  you  for  a  fool !  "  said  Stolemkin 
in  a  rage  and  knocked  his  son  down  with  a  blow. 

Sofia's  eyes  blazed.  She  turned  and  picked  up 
a  heavy  brazen  candlestick  and  with  all  her  force 
struck  Stolemkin  on  the  head. 

He  fell  like  a  log. 


CHAPTER  XIV 


**  When  Truth  comes  home,  he  always  returns  with  booty." 

COUNT  STOLEMKIN  had  never  been  treated  so 
in  all  his  life.  Knocked  down  by  a  woman  ! . . . 
Abimelech  all  over  again. 

His  men  took  him  home,  having  been  called  in 
by  Sofia,  who  did  not  seem  to  mind  whether  it  were 
a  corpse  or  a  live  man  taken  out.  The  big  man 
revived  quickly  and  swore  abundantly.  He  had 
thoughts  of  returning  to  Ostermann's  house  but 
desisted.  He  had  seen  strong  women,  but  one  who 
could  hit  like  that  was  a  wonder.    Phew ! 

But  she  would  pay.  He  would — yes,  he  would 
and  would  and  would.  It  was  something  excru- 
ciatingly painful  that  he  sought,  the  agony  abiding 
long,  but  it  was  indefinite.  Flogging  was  good, 
even  excellent ;  then  the  cutting  of  the  tongue,  and 
then  Siberia.    She  was  a  vixen.  .  .  . 

And  what  a  devil  to  do  as  she  had  done  !  The 
daughter  of  Glebof !  A  peasant's  child  married 
to  his  son,  to  a  Stolemkin  ! 

More  curses !  This  was  indeed  most  galling. 
In  itself  such  a  mesalliance  was  bad  enough,  but  after 
the  boasting,  it  was  worse  than  falling  from  a  cupola 
of  Saint  Sofia's. 

166 


i66  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


His  rage  was  Titanic. 

He  felt  in  a  sense  helpless.  Marriage  is  such  a 
fast  business.  Of  course  the  road  was  open  by 
divorce,  but  that  meant  publicity,  and  publicity 
was  just  the  thing  Stolemkin  desired  to  avoid. 

The  cursing  went  on  intermittently. 

Married  to  the  daughter  of  a  peasant.  He 
strode  about  furiously.  .  .  .  Estates  in  Livonia — • 
peuh  !    More  striding. 

But  Stolemkin  had  no  wish  to  shirk  the  business. 
He  was  a  full-blooded  man,  hot  and  strong.  He 
ate  well,  drank  well,  hated  well,  grabbed  well,  and 
cherished  his  desires  immoderately. 

When  he  was  a  little  calmer  he  envisaged  the 
situation  better.  He  sent  his  men  to  watch  Oster- 
mann's  house  at  Peterof  so  that  Sofia  should  not 
escape,  and  Belof  to  find  Gordon  and  keep  an  eye  on 
him,  while  he  sat  at  home  to  prepare  a  plan  of 
campaign. 

He  was  very  mixed  in  his  thoughts,  for  Sofia  had 
surprised  him  by  her  daring,  the  confession  of  the 
plot,  and  above  all,  by  the  blow  on  the  head.  But 
vaguely  at  first  and  then  definitely  the  essential  came 
to  him.  There  was  hope  if  he  played  his  cards  well. 
His  object  was  to  marry  his  son  to  the  wealth  of  the 
Puroffs,  so  now  two  things  were  necessary  instead  of 
one — the  divorcing  of  Sofia  and  the  finding  of 
the  real  Countess  Puroff. 

The  definiteness  of  the  plan  sobered  him  :  it 
gave  him  something  tangible  to  think  of,  something 
clearer  than  vague  curses  and  unaccountable  wonder 
at  a  woman's  wiles.  Phew  !  But  he  could  not  forget 
her.    Hitting  him  like  that.  .  .  .  Glebof 's  daughter. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


167 


too.  .  .  .  She  was — she  was — no,  she  was  inex- 
plicable— damn  her  ! 

He  looked  at  his  head  in  the  glass.  .  .  .  And  to 
think  she  could  hit  like  that !  .  .  . 

He  reverted  to  the  plan.  He  was  much  better 
when  he  ceased  thinking  of  Sofia,  for  she  raised  a 
tempest  in  his  emotions,  whilst  the  contemplation 
of  a  plan  of  action  made  his  thoughts  run  evenly  and 
his  blood  calmly. 

Gordon,  he  saw,  became  of  prime  importance. 
He  was  a  rogue,  a  villain,  and  a  hundred  other 
names  not  all  of  them  mentionable,  and  Stolemkin 
wondered  why  he  had  done  it.  Why  had  Gordon 
lent  himself  to  this  vile  imposture  ?  He  had  seem- 
ingly left  with  the  real  Countess  and  then  changed  her 
en  route.  So  he  knew  where  she  was  to  be  found. 
This  was  a  fact  to  be  cherished. 

Stolemkin  began  to  grow  calmer  still  as  he  thought 
over  things,  for  he  realized  that  rushing  wildly 
on  Gordon  might  defeat  his  ends.  Gordon  had,  of 
course,  run  grave  danger  and  incurred  severe 
penalties  for  being  a  party  to  this  imposture,  and  in 
St.  Petersburg  they  knew  how  to  deal  with  criminals. 
No  damned  nonsense.    Cut  their  backs  in  ribbons 

or  break  them  on  the  wheel  Gordon  would  not 

be  gay  when  he  realized  what  would  happen  to  him, 
if  he  did  not  at  once  bring  from  her  hiding-place  the 
real  Countess  Puroff. 

Stolemkin  drank  to  himself  and  his  scheme.  He 
imagined  he  had  won  and  that  all  would  yet  be  well 
with  him  and  purgatorially  ill  with  Glebof 's  daughter. 
A  man  with  a  plan  of  his  own  conceiving  is  prouder 
than  a  woman  with  a  child. 


i68  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 

Stolemkin  decided  to  call  on  Gordon  at  once. 
There  was  no  time  to  be  lost  if  Countess  Puroff  were 
to  be  discovered  and  brought  to  St.  Petersburg. 

He  ordered  his  carriage. 

His  friend  Count  Bulavin  called. 

"  Mier  efdom  Zjeiewoesonon."  Peace  be  in  this 
house  and  among  the  living  who  dwell  in  it. 

Stolemkin  considered  the  visit  untimely  and  did 
not  want  Bulavin's  peace.  He  invited  him,  however, 
to  drink  strong  English  beer  and  gave  him  a  chance 
to  see  the  Wedgwood  ware. 

"  Well,  Anton  Gregorovitch/'  said  Bulavin,  "  do 
you  not  feel  lonely  ?  " 

"  Why  ? 

"  Through  losing  your  son." 
"  You  did  your  best  to  get  rid  of  yours,  eh, 
Nicholas  Dimitrivitch  ?  " 
"  Not  to  get  rid  of  hun." 
"  Too  precious  ?  " 

"  He  has  at  any  rate  the  makings  of  a  man." 
"  A  chip  of  the  old  block  !  "    He  forced  a  laugh. 
"  Besides,  an  advantageous  marriage  covers  a 
multitude  of  shortcomings." 
"  A  multitude,  eh  ?  " 

"  An  advantageous  marriage,friend.  The  Countess 
Puroff — ^you  look  gay,"  Bulavin  said  untruthfully. 

"  I  feel  it,"  retorted  Stolemkin  with  equal  un- 
truthfulness. 

"  You  do  well.  Your  daughter-in-law  is  a  fine 
woman." 

Stolemkin  grunted. 

"  Remarkably  fine  woman." 

"  Um-m." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  169 


"  Country  air,  eh  ?  " 
"  Possibly." 

"  Are  you  not  proud  of  her,  Anton  Gregorovitch  ?" 
Devilish  proud,"  said  Stolemkin  almost  savagely. 
"  You  would  have  been,  eh  ?  " 

"  But  I  lost,  old  friend.  Lost  the  jewel — so 
fresh  looking,  too.  What  a  prize  even  for  the  son  of 
Count  Stolemkin  !  " 

"  As  you  say,  what  a  prize !  " 

"  And  all  due  to  foresight,  energy   I  take  my 

beating  in  good  part,  eh  ?  " 

"  Excellent.  I  wish  you  were  not  quite  so  good. 
It  is  no  pleasure  beating  a  man  like  you." 

"  I  am  lost  in  admiration.  I  no  longer  think  what 
I  missed  or  what  you  gained,  but  what  a  prize  ! 
It  was  whispered  you  would  have  liked  to  marry  the 
maid  yourself." 

"  Eh — to  the  devil  with  their  whispers." 

"  Vasili  might  have  looked  elsewhere,  only  there 
is  such  a  danger  of  odd  coupling  nowadays,  eh  ? 
And  Countess  Puroff ,  with  estates  in  Livonia,  Revel — 
what  is  the  catalogue  ?  " 

"  I  expect  you  learned  it  off  by  heart  and  said  it 
oftener  than  your  prayers,  till  some  one  else  grabbed 
it,  Nicholas  Dimitrivitch." 

Stolemkin  was  not  enjoying  this  conversation  one 
whit,  but  Bulavin  was  a  curious  man  and  dangerous 
opponent,  and  somehow  Stolemkin  felt  uneasy  and 
was  in  the  mood  to  watch  for  straws — even  if  the 
dust  blew  in  his  eyes. 

"  And  what  a  grab  !  Estates  in  Livonia,  Moscow, 
Revel ;  jewels  to  dazzle  the  courts  of  Europe  ;  fish  to 
feed  an  army — a  big  catch,  eh  ?    And  all  with  a 


170  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


girl — Countess  Puroff .  Suppose  Gordon  brought  you 
the  wrong  girl  I  .  .  .  Phew." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  Stolemkin  glared  but 
feared  to  be  too  angry. 

"  I  said  suppose,  my  friend,  suppose  He 

shook  his  head.    "  Too  awful." 

"  Too  ridiculous,"  snapped  Stolemkin. 

"  Yes — for  you,  eh." 

"  No,  for  you,  Nicholas  Dimitrivitch.  The  sup- 
position is  ridiculous.  Upon  my  oath,  but  you 
almost  make  me  rejoice  openly  to  you  that  your 
man  did  not  bring  back  Countess  Puroff." 

"  While  yours  did,  eh  ?  .  .  .  Rejoice  !  It  is  a 
smaU  thing.  Still,  those  estates,  those  jewels, 
those  fish,  those  serfs — and  still  let  us  suppose,  just 
for  the  zest  of  the  thing,  for  the  jest  even,  that 
Gordon  brought  back  the  wrong  woman  .  .  . 
Phew." 

Stolemkin  did  not  like  this.  He  began  to  wonder 
if  Bulavin  had  heard  rumours.  But  he  was  a  stout 
man  before  his  enemies. 

"  I  can  imagine,"  he  said,  "  the  envious  and  the 
mean  and  those  who  would  gamer  where  they  did 
not  sow  saying  all  manner  of  stupid  things.  I  can 
even  imagine  them  saying  my  son  has  not  married 
Puroff's  daughter." 

"  Would  they  go  so  far  as  that  ?  " 
Envy  makes  men  go  very  far,  Nicholas  Dimitri- 
vitch." 

"  It  does.  It  would  send  them  to — well,  to 
Buof,  eh,  for  a  slip  of  a  girl.  ..." 

"  It  would  also  send  them  to  the  devil." 

"  By  the    saints !  it    would.    And    yet,  you 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  171 


almost  fill  a  man  with  envy  when  you  talk  of  your 
daughter-in-law's  possessions." 

"  Don't  go  to  the  devil,  Nicholas  Dimitrivitch." 

"  It  is  a  task  to  escape  him  these  days,  eh  ? 
I  suppose  you  know  that  wherever  one  goes  now  in 
St.  Petersburg  the  talk  is  all  of  your  daughter-in-law 
and  your  —  luck  !  " 

Stolemkin  grunted. 

"  Countess  Puroff  owns  this  and  that.  Stolemkin 
has  won  again — et  cetera,  et  cetera." 

Stolemkin  grunted  uncompromisingly. 

"  By  the  by,  you  remember  the  red-headed  man 
who  appeared  at  your  feast  like  an  untimely 
visitor  ?  " 

"  Well  ?  " 

"  Odd,  wasn't  he  ?  " 
"  Very." 

"  Such  a  curious  case.  A  man  from  the  country 
pushing  his  way  into  your  house  at  such  a  time." 

"  He  happened  to  be  one  of  Countess  Puroff' s  men," 
said  Stolemkin,  his  throat  getting  drier  ;  and  he  had 
no  desire  to  stop  Bulavin  now  as  he  itched  to  hear  all 
suspicions  that  might  have  been  roused  by  Belof's 
appearance. 

One  of  the  Countess's  men.  .  .  .  Been  a  good 
deal  with  her,  perhaps." 
"  Perhaps." 
"  Ah ! .  .  .  " 

"  The  Countess  has  a  good  many  men  ?" 

"  So  I  have  heard  :  thirty  thousand  serfs  scattered, 
I  suppose,  amongst  her  estates  in  Livonia,  Ukraine, 
Moscow,  Revel.  But  this  man  was  at  Buof,  was  he 
not  ?  " 


172 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Perhaps." 

"  Only  perhaps  ?  I  heard  he  saw  his  mistress 
depart  with  Mr.  Gordon." 

"  And  who  told  you  that  ?  " 
I  heard  it." 

"  Do  you  believe  all  you  hear  ?  " 

"  No.  Not  all.  In  fact,  I  disbelieve  a  good  deal 
of  what  I  see,  for  it  is  not  difficult  to  be  taken  in,  and 
then  one  looks  such  a  fool." 

Bulavin  went  away  with  some  glee.  He  had 
satisfied  the  natural  spirit  within  him  to  dig  Sto- 
lemkin  in  the  ribs,  and  he  had  found  ample  con- 
firmation of  his  supposition  that  Stolemkin  knew 
all  was  not  well  with  the  marriage.  But  he  had 
not  succeeded  in  settling  for  himself  the  further 
question :  was  Stolemkin  a  party  to  the  imposture 
or  merely  a  victim  ?  He  left  that  for  another 
day. 

Stolemkin  hardly  knew  what  to  make  of  the  visit. 
He  cursed  wildly,  not  only  Sofia  and  Gordon  now, 
but  Belof  and  Bulavin.  He  flung  his  wrath  on 
Belof  for  the  moment,  and  yet  he  recalled  Bulavin's 
words,  "It  is  not  difficult  to  be  taken  in,"  and 
remembered  also  the  concluding  sentence,  and 
then  one  looks  such  a  fool." 

No  man  looks  a  fool  gladly.  It  is  easier  to  suffer 
pain  than  ridicule.  Stolemkin  felt  no  time  was  to 
be  wasted  if  he  were  to  get  vengeance  on  those  who 
had  tricked  him,  and  stop  the  floodgates  of  laughter 
opening  in  St.  Petersburg. 

He  \.  ould  see  Gordon  at  once  and  wring  the  truth 
from  him.  His  carriage  was  at  the  gate  and  he 
drove  away  immediately. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


173 


When  Sofia  knocked  Stolemkin  down  and  saw 
he  would  give  no  further  trouble  for  some  little 
time,  she  turned  to  look  at  Vasili.  He,  dazed  a 
little  by  the  blow,  was  getting  up,  so  she  stayed  where 
she  was,  holding  the  candlestick,  her  breast  heaving 
with  the  excitement,  a  flush  on  her  cheek. 

Vasili  was  pale,  with  a  red  blotch  on  one  side  of  his 
face.  He  too  was  breathing  heavily.  He  turned 
his  attention  to  his  father  and  when  Count  Stolem- 
kin had  been  taken  away,  Vasili  came  to  his  wife. 

"  Sofia,"  he  said,  and  he  spoke  with  a  ring  in 
his  voice  that  she  had  not  heard  before  :  like  some 
chord  rarely  played,  for  it  needs  great  inspiration. 

"  Yes,"  she  said.  Her  voice  occasionally  wavered, 
but  never  her  eyes. 

He  looked  her  bravely  in  the  face,  not  timorously, 
nor  as  one  who  pleaded  and  sought  favours. 

"  Is  this  all  true  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  What  ?  That  I  am  not  or  was  not  Countess 
Puroff  ?  Yes." 

He  looked  at  her  as  if  to  read  her  soul,  not  for 
reproach  or  anything  selfish. 

"  And  my  father  had  your  father  flogged  to  death." 

"  Yes." 
I  am  sorry  for  that." 

"  Thank  you,"  she  said  quietly. 

"  But  did  you  marry  me  just  to  spite  my  father  ?  " 

She  hesitated.  He  spoke  with  feeling  and  she 
knew  that  fact  had  hurt  him.  But  she  was  not  used 
to  diplomatic  answers  and  tactful  turns  of  speech. 
She  looked  at  him  unfalteringly. 

"  Yes,"  she  said. 

He  showed  his  blow  clear  enough :  but  he  also 


174 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


manifested  a  look  that  was  rarely  seen  in  his  face. 
It  spoke  of  hidden  deeps,  of  things  covered  over 
that  a  crisis  might  bring  to  light. 

He  slowly  turned  his  back  on  her,  and  as  he  entered 
his  room  she  had  an  impulse  to  call  to  him,  but  did 
not. 

The  next  moment  she  heard  the  key  turn  in  the 
lock. 


CHAPTER  XV 


"There  is  a  fatal  Fury  in  your  visage 
It  blazes  fierce,  and  menaces  Destruction." 

— RowE. 

GORDON  came  full  tilt  on  Belof,  as  the  latter, 
weary,  with  wide  searching  eyes,  crossed  the 
road  opposite  Gordon's  lodging. 

The  Russian  was  exuberant  to  success.  His 
emotions  stirred  him  to  feats  acrobatic  and  wild. 
He  shouted,  wept,  clasped  Gordon  closer  than  a 
brother,  and  muttered  incoherencies. 
Gordon  was  glad  to  see  him. 
After  a  series  of  hectic  exclamations  Belof  man- 
aged to  speak  intelligently. 

"  My  mistress.  Countess  Puroff — where  is  she  ? 
Melania  Nicholovna  ?  " 

"  Be  quiet,  you  town-crying  oriflammus  son 
of  Hercules  !  You  don't  want  to  tell  all  St.  Peters- 
burg and  those  that  dwell  in  ships  on  the  Neva  what 

your  business  is  " 

"  But  my  mistress." 

"  Oh  !  Come  inside  and  bottle  your  shrieks  with- 
in the  four  walls  of  my  room  if  it's  possible." 

Belof 's  cries — little  ejaculatory  barks — accom- 
panied them  to  Gordon's  room.  The  appeals  were 
renewed  here,  and  Gordon  put  his  fingers  to  his 

175 


176  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


ears,  and  then  waved  the  tempestuous  Belof  to 
silence. 

"  You  are  worse  than  the  importunate  widow. 
I'don't  wonder  at  the  poor  old  judge  now.  Can't  you 
keep  your  mouth  still  while  I  ask  you  the  time  o'  day 
and  crack  a  word  in  your  ears  ?  Man  !  but  you 
are  big — and  red  !  And  you  have  made  a  sensation  in 
the  capital  that  you  did  not  anticipate,  I  warrant. 
That's  the  man  from  the  country  all  over." 

"  My  mistress,  Mr.  Gordon,  Melania  Nichol- 
ovna  ?  " 

"  She  is  "  Gordon  paused  and  steadied  his 

tongue.  This  was  not  quite  the  theme  on  which 
to  trip  with  gaiety.  "  I  hope  she  is  well,"  he  said 
fervently. 

Belof  looked  startled. 

"  Hope,"  he  said,  and  would  have  added  more  but 
that  Gordon  put  his  hand  on  the  steward's  shoulder 
and  said- — 

"  Yes.  I  also  believe  it.  She  is  being  saved  from 
disaster." 

Belof  was  inclined  to  the  incredulous,  for  he  had 
gone  through  so  much  he  was  now  afraid  of  being 
cheated. 

"  I  do  not  understand.  Where  is  she  ?  " 
There  are  a  good  many  things  we  don't  under- 
stand in  this  world,  my  bully  boy,  and  women,  God 
bless  'em  !  are  amongst  the  number  :  and  things  may 
be  all  right  and  sailing  straight  for  Paradise  Gates  in 
spite  of  our  non-understanding,  while  we  are  whirling 
about  in  Hell's  rapids.  Don't  worry,  my  Knight  of 
the  Golden  Fleece !  Countess  Puroff  is  well — 
or  by  God  !  "  He  shuddered.  "  Paff  !    We  won't 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  177 


worry.  She  is  well,  and  it  is  for  her  peace  of  mind 
I  am  here." 

Thank  God  !  Thank  the  saints  !  "  Belof  first 
embraced  Gordon  and  then  fell  on  his  knees  and 
thanked  as  many  saints  as  he  could  remember. 
When  he  got  up  he  asked  quickly — 

"  But  where  is  she  ?    Take  me  to  her." 

"  In  good  time.  I  will  race  you  when  the  time 
comes,  my  friend.  But  my  ruddy  man  with  the 
gorgeous  torch,  I  have  a  fear  you  have  disturbed  the 
peace  of  this  mushroom  capital.  Heaven  keep  a 
weight  on  the  soul  of  blessed  Peter  !  What  have  you 
been  doing  ?  I  hear  you  have  been  going  to  and  fro 
in  the  earth  doing  all  manner  of  foolish  things — 
did  you  not  go  to  the  wedding  ?  " 

Wedding — yes.  But  that  was  not  Melania 
Nicholovna." 

"  No.  And  do  you  think  she  would  have  been 
enjoying  herself  there  ?  As  the  bride-man,  do  you 
understand  ?  Do  you  think  she  would  have  been 
happy  as  the  bride  of  Stolemkin's  son  ?  " 

He  did  not  understand.   He  stared  as  if  bewildered. 

"  I  must  tell  you,"  said  Gordon,  "  for  you  have 
come  at  a  curious  time.  You  are  a  kind  of  Guy 
Fawkes  without  knowing  it.  You  might  have  had  us 
blown  to  pieces  if  I  had  not  caught  hold  of  you 
now.  But  tell  me  :  what  made  you  come  to  St. 
Petersburg  at  all  ?  " 

Belof  told  of  the  arrival  of  the  other  two  emissaries 
and  of  his  journey  to  the  capital  to  warn  his  mistress. 

Gordon  took  him  by  the  hand. 

"  I  can  trust  you,"  he  said.  "A  man  who  will  do 
that  for  his  mistress  is  on  her  side  ;  but  don't  spoil 

M 


178  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


the  cake  by  putting  in  too  much  sugar.  A  word  of 
warning  or  the  ghost  of  Banquo  with  about  a 
thousand  others  will  disturb  your  rest  and  mine  till 
the  worms  get  our  body  !  Keep  your  mouth  shut. 
The  flies  can't  get  in  then.  You  know  nothing. 
There  isn't  a  more  ignorant  person  from  the  Caspian 
to  the  Baltic  than  yourself  concerning  Melania 
Nicholovna  if  anybody  asks  you  impertinent  ques- 
tions. Understand  ?  Put  bolts  and  bars  on  your 
mouth.  Keep  it  shut.  Wax  it.  .  .  .  Um  !  "  Gordon 
shut  his  own. 

Belof  looked  more  dazed  than  understanding. 

"  You  don't  grasp  it  all  ?  " 

Belof  shook  his  head. 

"  Then  I  will  tell  you." 

"  Please,"  said  Belof  pathetically. 

"  Well,  that  boisterous  ruffian  Count  Stolemkin, 
whose  house  you  invaded  as  easily  as  a  flea  creeps 
in  your  sheepskin  or  Charles  the  Twelfth  entered 
a  foreign  country. — Heaven  blessed  the  earth  when 
a  man  like  that  was  born — and  yet  he  was  an 
uncanny  fool !  .  .  .  Well,  Count  Stolemkin  wanted 
to  marry  his  son  to  Countess  Puroff  for  the  sake  of 
everything  but  herself.  You  understand  that  ? 
For  her  estates,  her  wealth — ^you  see  that  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Good  !  One  stone  at  the  time — that's  how  St. 
Petersburg  was  made,  eh  ?  Well,  Countess  Puroff  did 
not  like  the  idea.  Neither,  to  tell  you  the  honest 
truth,  good  Belof  of  the  heavenly  hair,  did  I.  But 
I  could  not  say  so.  Only  by  the  kind  intervention 
of  Providence  a  pack  of — peuh  !  um.  I  think  if  I 
gloss  a  little  here  I  shall  do  better.    The  prophet 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  179 


Nathan  didn't  tell  everything  at  once.    It  was 
decided  to  marry  some  one  else  to  Stolemkin's  son. 
Now  does  the  sunlight  penetrate  your  faithful  if 
tough  head  ?  " 
Belof  waited. 

"  Very  well,  I  will  be  clear.  Some  one  else 
pretended  to  be  Countess  Puroff  so  that  the  real  one, 
Melania  Nicholovna — your  Melania  Nicholovna — 
should  escape  the  Stolemkin  grip.  Now  do  you 
understand  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes.    Wonderful !  " 

"  It  is.  Most  wonderful !  But  it  will  be  more 
wonderful  still  if  we  get  out  of  this  town  with  whole 
skins,  now  that  you  have  come." 

-  I—I  

"  Yes,  you.  It  is  always  you  good  folk  that 
kick  up  the  rumpus.  It  was  the  good  brother  who 
didn't  go  eating  things  with  the  swine,  and  doing 
other  jovial  tricks  of  that  kind,  that  started  upsetting 
the  feast  when  the  fatted  calf  was  killed.  And 
you  may  have  done  us  all  an  infernally  bad 
turn." 

"  I.    But  I  would  not." 

"  Would  not !  All  the  way  through  life  we  do 
the  things  we  would  not  and  open  wide  our  eyes 
when  we  see  the  idiotic  things  we  have  done.  When 
you  invaded  Stolemkin's  bridal  party  like  a  Tartar 
chief  did  you  not  ask  for  Countess  Puroff  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  when  you  saw  the  lady  who  was  saving  your 
mistress's  happiness  you  said^  '  That  is  not  my 
mistress,'  or  some  such  swallow-your-luck  phrase, 
did  you  not  ?  " 


i8o  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  I  did.  Oh  !  I  am  very  sorry.  I  did  not  think. 
I  did  not  know  " 

"  Of  course  not.  I  am  not  going  through  the  Ash 
Wednesday  services  for  your  disturbance.  I  merely 
want  you  to  understand.  Luckily,  the  lady  got 
you  to  depart  like  Jehu  in  the  chariot ;  but  now  you 
see,  we  want  to  get  out  of  St.  Petersburg  as  quickly 
as  possible,  because  we  go  from  here  to  Melania 
Nicholovna." 

Ah  !  I  may  come  too.  I  will  not  speak  another 
word.  My  mistress,  Melania  Nicholovna.  ...  I  was 
so  afraid.  . 

He  babbled  more  and  tears  ran  down  his  honest 
cheeks. 

"  With  men  like  you,"  said  Gordon,  "  Pultowa 
was  as  certain  to  come  as  the  sun  was  to  rise  after 
Narva.  But  now  we  want  no  more  bungling,  or 
we  shall  be  lucky  to  end  as  Saul  and  Jonathan 
did — and  there  are  lots  of  kings  and  kings'  sons 
whose  exits  fire  me  with  no  ambition  of  emulation. 
So,  Paul  of  the  Evening  Sun,  silence.  A  discreet 
silence.  You  must  say  nothing.  We  don't  want 
St.  Petersburg  to  know  yet  what  has  happened.  We 
want  to  be  in  the  company  of  bears  and  fir  trees,  and 
the  gorgeous  steppes  and  a  free  and  easy  wind,  before 
these  civilized  folk  in  the  capital  learn  of  the  trick 
that  has  been  played  on  them.  Understand  ? 
The  silence  of  the  dead."  Gordon  put  his  finger  on 
his  mouth. 

Belof  nodded.    Holding  the  truth  in  short  fashion, 
he  did  not  mind  embroideries  of  speech. 
Gordon  smiled. 

"  I  may  sound  gay,"  he  said.    "  I  fancy  it  is 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  i8i 


because  I  feel  I  am  somewhere  near  the  edge  of  the 
Tarpeian  Rock :  and  it  is  in  situations  like  that  I 
am  always  gayer  than  usual,  damme  !  " 

"  When  shall  we  go  ?  "  asked  Belof  quietly. 

"  As  soon  as  we  can.  No  gum  arable  nor  spices  nor 
myrrh  nor  gold  will  keep  me  in  this  city  longer  than 
is  necessary,  now  that  you  have  sounded  the  tocsin. 
We  have  to  get  the  lady  who  pretended  to  be 
Countess  Puroff  out  of  the  place,  do  you  see  ?  " 

"  Ah  !    Yes,  yes." 

"  And  when  we  can  do  that  we  will  go  at  once." 
"  Why  not  go  now  ?  " 

"  I  am  waiting  for  the  message  from  the  escort. 
Things  don't  go  in  Russia  with  the  ease  that  this  old 
earth  turns  on  its  axis.  There  is  always  somebody 
or  other  dropping  in  the  ditch  at  the  critical  moment, 
and  as  I  was  not  to  make  the  arrangements  for 
the  escort,  but  merely  to  take  Sofia,  Countess  Puroff 
by  adoption,  and  wife  of  Vasili  Count  Stolemkin 
by  marriage,  to  a  spot  to  be  told  me,  I  wait.  Yes, 
I  wait  with  your  message  doing  its  glorious  work.  .  .  . 
But  we  will  be  all  right  shortly,  good  warm  Belof. 
We  will  soon  be  shaking  our  livers  to  good  use  on 
the  roads  outside  St.  Petersburg — on  the  roads  that 
lead  to  Melania  Nicholovna.  .  .  .  God  preserve 
her!  .  .  /' 

And  then  Count  Stolemkin  marched  in. 

He  looked  eminently  business-like,  as  if  he  were 
full  to  the  brim  of  his  subject  and  determined  to 
play  his  part  to  the  best  of  his  ability.  His  thick 
neck  seemed  a  little  redder  than  usual,  and  his  blue 
staring  eyes  stared  their  widest.  He  was  just 
about  to  say  something  of  a  preliminary  nature  to 


i82  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Gordon,  when  he  caught  sight  of  Belof,  and  his 
eyes  seemed  to  go  bluer  and  his  neck  redder.  He 
advanced  a  step  towards  Belof  and  said — 
"  You,  eh  !  " 

Belof  was  about  to  say,  "  Yes,  Excellency," 
when  Gordon's  warning  to  silence  came  to  him. 
He  shut  his  lips  tightly. 

They  were  three  fine  men  physically.  Belof  was 
biggest,  but  Gordon  was  the  lithest,  most  muscular, 
most  forbidding.  He  had  the  stance  of  the  man 
who  knew  his  strength  and  was  confident.  Stolemkin 
was  a  big  man  in  a  fury,  tempered  by  discretion. 
Gordon  had  clearly  the  gift  of  tempering. 

The  room  was  plain,  and  without  much  ornament. 
Two  cheap  tapestries  covered  one  wall :  a  few 
trinkets  gathered  by  Gordon  in  his  travels  were 
on  the  top  shelf  of  a  book  case,  the  other  two  shelves 
containing  books.  There  was  an  ikon  in  the  corner — 
the  property  of  the  landlord — and  an  oak  table  and 
rush  seated  chairs  were  the  rest  of  the  furniture. 
These  were  merely  Gordon's  quiet  lodgings.  It 
was  certain  that  Stolemkin  had  come  in  anger  and 
yet,  now  that  he  was  in  the  presence  of  Gordon, 
he  felt  the  need  for  coolness.  So  he  spoke  with  much 
less  fury  than  he  had  contemplated.  In  fact  he 
was  surprised  at  his  own  calm. 

"  Birds  of  a  feather  or  the  duper  and  the  dupe  or 
what,  Louis  Gordon  ?  " 

"  Or  what,  Anton  Gregorovitch  ?  "  replied  Gor- 
don, with  the  air  of  a  man  unawed. 

"  It  is  a  virtue." 

"  That  can  be  overworked." 

"  And  then  becomes  of  most  use." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


183 


"  Well,  you  will  probably  need  it." 
It  is  for  that  I  rejoice  in  its  possession." 

"  Um.  You  know  this  man  ?  "  He  nodded  his 
head  towards  Belof. 

"  Appearances  certainly  point  in  that  direction." 

"  A  steward  of  Countess  Puroff,  eh  ?  " 

"  He  has  the  appearance  of  a  good  one." 

"  And  he  seeks  his  mistress,  Louis  Alexan- 
drovitch  ?  " 

"  Many  have  done  the  same  thing." 

"  But  some  with  more  success  than  he  has  got." 

"  It  is  an  uneven  world  :  one  eats  caviare,  another 
starves.    That  is  life." 

One  gets  broken  on  the  wheel,  another  is  be- 
headed— that  is  death,"  said  Stolemkin,  with  a 
grim  nod. 

We  must  all  die,"  retorted  Gordon  pleasantly. 
"  Not  all  eat  caviare  or  get  broken  on  the  wheel." 
"  I  may  congratulate  myself.  I  have  had  caviare." 
"  And  now  await  the  wheel,  eh  ?  " 
"  Fortune's  wheel  is  ever  turning." 

Exactly.  One  is  free  to-day,  but  in  prison 
to-morrow." 

"  And  out  the  day  after.    It  is  a  merry  world, 
Anton  Gregorovitch." 
For  those  who  live." 

"  Of  whom  I  am  one." 

"  There  are  dangers  in  life." 

"  They  are  for  the  weak  and  craven." 

"  Also  for  impostors,  aiders  and  abettors  of 
impostors." 

"  The  audacious  have  no  fears." 

"  Not  till  it  is  too  late." 


i84 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


And  then  it  doesn't  matter/' 
"You  are  as  able  with  your  tongue  as  I  imagined. 
You  reply  as  well  as  you  invent." 

You  would  probably  be  glad  to  discover  half  as 
well." 

"  I  fancy  I  have  made  the  discovery." 
"  I  congratulate  you." 

"  I  have  already  seen  this  man."  He  pointed  to 
Belof,  "  and,  if  you  would  know  more,  the  lady  you 
pretended  was  Countess  Puroff.  Do  you  wish  me  to 
tell  you  more  of  what  I  know  ?  " 

"  It  would  doubtless  be  interesting." 
Then  I  will.    I  know  your  trick,  and  now  per- 
haps you  will  see  the  dangers  that  await  you." 

I  have  encouraged  a  habit  of  circumventing 
dangers." 

"  And  yet  most  habits  have  their  weak  moments." 

"  Not  tiU  they  have  occurred." 

"  Well,  I  have  come,  Louis  Alexandrovitch,  to 
tell  you  plainly  that  your  villainous  plot  is  known 
to  me,  and  you  shall  suffer  all  the  pains  and  penalties 
I  can  secure  for  you — unless  " 

"  Unless  ?  " 

"  You  do  your  utmost  to  right  yourself  and  me." 

"  Unless,  a  blessed  word,  Anton  Gregorovitch. 
And  I  am  not  in  a  humour  for  a  bargain  ?  " 

"  Then  you  will  put  me  in  a  humour  for  getting 
you  clapped  in  prison." 

"  To  think  and  do  are  not  quite  the  same  thing." 

"  You  doubt  me.  Don't  be  a  fool.  You  know  what 
you  have  done,  and  that  Count  Ostermann  will 
see  you  are  broken  on  the  wheel  for  it.  If  you  refuse 
the  terms  I  offer  you,  I  will  show  you  no  mercy." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  185 

"  I  do  not  ask  for  it." 

"  Don't  you  value  your  life  ?  " 

"  Only  under  decent  conditions." 
Well — I  make  no  hard  conditions.  Tell  me 
what  has  happened  to  Countess  Puroff.  Tell 
me  where  she  is.  If  I  get  her  and  she  marries  my 
son  I  will  not  pursue  you — you  will  have  time,  so  far 
as  I  am  concerned,  to  get  out  of  Russia." 

Gordon  shook  his  head. 
I  fancy  you  do  not  realize  your  conduct  or 
your  position,"  said  Stolemkin. 

"  That  is  possible." 

"  You  will  be  flogged — that  is  certain,  if  I  de- 
nounce you." 

"  But  will  you  denounce  me — that  is  the  question." 
There  is  no  question.  Either  I  get  my  desire  or 
my  revenge.  You  are  not  so  stupid  as  not  to  see 
that." 

"  But  if  you  denounce  me  you  hold  yourself  up 
to  the  ridicule  of  the  whole  country.  Denounce 
me  and  every  lackey  will  have  sore  sides  at  the 
thought  of  you.  You  will  be  the  most  successful 
topic  at  dinners  and  feasts  that  has  been  invented 
for  a  generation.  People  will  cease  praying : 
they  will  just  say  Count  Stolemkin  and  Countess 
Puroff  and  then  laugh  till  the  next  morning.  De- 
nounce me  .  .  .  put  yourself  on  a  ship's  mast  for  gulls 
to  screech  at.  .  .  Denounce  me.  .  .  every  tame 
bear  in  Russia  would  hug  you  for  it,  for  everybody 
would  give  them  delicacies  through  sheer  joy." 

"  By  God  !  "  said  Stolemkin,  losing  his  calm. 
"  You  talk  like  that,  do  you  ?  That's  how  the  vixen 
talked.    But  I'll  have  your  tongues  split.  You 


i86  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


think  I  am  afraid  to  tell  because  people  will  say  I 
have  been  taken  in  by  a  rogue.  That  may  happen 
to  anybody,  particularly  when  you  were  considered 
a  man  fit  to  meet  with  men  of  honour." 

"  And  still  fit,"  said  Gordon  with  a  steel  ring  in 
his  voice.  All  the  Saints  in  Heaven  would  be 
taxed  to  number  the  cruelties  you  have  practised. 
To  flog  a  man  to  death  is  honourable,''eh  ?  To  trick 
him,  a  shameful  thing.  To  Hell  with  your  honour 
and  your  sense  of  it.  You  would  filch  the  last 
herb  from  the  widow  and  orphan  and  call  that 
honourable,  yea  clever ;  but  to  be  tricked  yourself 
you  look  upon  as  next  to  blasphemy,  as  dangerous 
regicide." 

"  Paid,  Mr.  Gordon — paid  to  do  work  and  " 

"  No,  Damn  your  money,"  said  Gordon,  There 
it  is,  packed  counted  and  ready.  I  wash  my  hands 
of  so  honourable  a  man  as  yourself.  Take  your 
money,"  and  Gordon  flung  a  bag  of  gold,  that  lay  on 
one  of  the  book  shelves,  on  the  table. 

You  think  to  get  out  of  it  that  way,"  said 
Stolemkin, but  you  won't.  If  you  tricked  me,  you 
also  tricked  the  Count.  Do  you  think  Count 
Ostermann  will  be  your  butt  ?  Can't  you  see  your- 
self tortured  before  you  go  to  the  wheel  or  to  the 
block  or  to  Siberia.  You  talk  like  a  maid  in  a  fury  : 
have  you  no  sense  ?  " 

"  Enough  to  enjoy  a  joke." 

Stolemkin  paused  a  moment.  He  was  beginning 
to  realize  that  Gordon  was  not  to  be  so  easily  won 
to  his  assistance  as  he  had  imagined.  He  thought 
him  a  fool  of  course.  He  couldn't  understand 
such  madness,  for  torture  and  death  were  certain. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  187 


if  Ostermann  handed  the  prisoners  over  to  the 
Secret  Court  of  PoHce — Preobrazhenskaia  Kant- 
seliaria. 

Yet  Stolemkin  knew  to  what  Gordon  trusted  : 
that  he  (Stolemkin)  would  not  face  the  unhappy 
position  of  dupe.  But  the  desire  for  revenge  will 
make  a  man  do  odd  things  ;  and  hate  can  be  as 
reckless  as  love. 

Bargaining  was  essential  if  Stolemkin  would 
emerge  from  the  business  with  credit.  If  he  could 
secure  the  real  Countess  Puroff ,  and  Vasili  divorced 
his  present  wife,  Stolemkin  could  tell  the  story  with 
content,  for  his  emerging  from  a  trying  situation 
with  such  glory  would  approach  the  heroic.  Yet 
Gordon's  help  was  almost  a  necessity.  Where  was 
Countess  Puroff  ? 

Stolemkin  felt  thwarted,  and  yet  knew  that 
threats  had  not  availed.  So  while  neither  shrieking 
or  hiding  penalties  he  tried  other  methods. 

*'  Tell  me,''  he  said  to  Gordon, where  Countess 
Puroff  is.    Tell  me  that.    I  think  I  deserve  so  much." 

"  It  is  not  your  merits  I  think  of  but  hers." 
What  have  merits  got  to  do  with  it  ?  "  And 
then  he  looked  at  Gordon  with  added  emotions. 
Amazement   knocked   out    curiosity   and  anger 
quashed  tact.      You  devil !    You  " 

Gordon  moved  towards  his  sword  and  drew  it. 

"  A  little  moderation  Excellency." 

"  Moderation  for  you  ?  Now  I  see  your 
villainy.  You  have  the  audacity  of  a  brigand 
you  " 

And  then  he  realized  the  use  of  Belof  and  turned  to 
him.    "  You  know  this  man  ?  "  he  shouted. 


i88  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Belof,  bewildered  by  the  two  men's  talk,  said 
nothing  but  looked  as  if  "  Yes,  Excellency,"  were 
on  the  tip  of  his  tongue. 

Stolemkin  did  not  heed  the  silence. 

"  This  man,"  he  waved  a  chubby  hand  towards 
Gordon — "  took  your  mistress,  didn't  he  ?  Do 
you  know  where  she  is  ?    Eh  ?  " 

"  No,  Excellency." 
No,  who  does  ?  He  has  her  hidden  somewhere, 
and  do  you  know  why  ?  He  wants  to  marry  her 
himself.  That's  his  little  game.  He  has  your 
mistress  hidden  somewhere  and  instead  of  seeing 
her  married  honourably  according  to  Her  Majesty's 
wishes  to  my  son,  he  hides  her  and  would  marry  her 
himself." 

Belof  looked  alarmed.  It  sounded  dreadfully 
like  trouble  for  his  mistress.  He  looked  at  Gordon 
enquiringly. 

He  raves.  Don't  pay  any  attention  to  him,"  said 
Gordon.  The  words  are  coming  out  like  the 
water  at  Horeb  with  no  sense  of  proportion.  He 
has  been  struck." 

"  Yes,  and  by  Heaven  !  you  shall  be  struck. 
You  wretched  mercenary  !  "  He  turned  to  Belof 
again  as  if  instinct  warned  him  that  he  might  attract 
this  man  to  his  side.  "  A  pretty  thing  for  your  mis- 
tress to  be  held  in  bondage  by  a  man  who  was  paid 
by  me  to  do  my  work.  He  holds  her  a  prisoner 
somewhere,  so  that  he  can  marry  her  by  force." 

"  You  lie." 

Gordon  spoke  so  quietly  it  seemed  quite  a  strange 
tone  to  interrupt  Stolemkin's  furious  flow.  But  it 
was  as  if  the  speaker  spoke  his  minimum  and 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  189 


maximum  in  one.  Action  was  clearly  to  follow. 
Gordon's  sword  was  shaking  in  his  hand. 

Stolemkin  looked  at  him  hatingly,  but  respect- 
fully. He  did  not  wish  to  begin  a  fight  from  which 
he  had  nothing  to  gain  :  not  that  he  was  afraid,  for 
Stolemkin  did  not  lack  courage. 

Belof  crept  into  the  pause. 

"  My  mistress — is  it  true  ?  "  he  asked  almost 
tenderly  of  Gordon. 

"  You  heard  me  say  he  lied  ?  " 

-  Yes— but— but  " 

"  Don't  worry,  Count  Stolemkin  talks  like  a 
man  on  burning  logs.  Your  mistress  will  never 
marry,  if  I  can  do  anything  in  the  matter,  except 
where  she  desires.  I  am  for  her  welfare.  Count 
Stolemkin  is  for  his  own." 

Belof  gave  a  cry  of  thankfulness. 
Thank  God  !    Thank  God  !  "    Belof  was  like 
a  child  in  the  simplicity  of  his  affection. 

And  now,"  said  Gordon  to  Stolemkin,  "  I  think 
we  can  bring  this  interview  to  an  end." 

"  You  refuse  your  chance  ?  "  asked  Stolemkin, 
feeling  no  gainer  by  the  meeting. 
What  chance  ?  " 

"  Bring  Countess  Puroff  to  me  and  you  shall  have 
opportunity  to  get  out  of  the  country." 

"  And  if  I  refuse  the  advantageous  and  generous 
offer  ?  " 

"  Then  you  will  wish  you  had  taken  it :  you  will 
wish  you  were  dead,  for  you  will  die  in  torment." 

Gordon  laughed. 
And  you  only  wish  I  would  come  to  terms  with 
you,  Anton  Gregorovitch.    But  I  won't.    I  did 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


once,  but  I  refuse  a  second  time.  Take  your  money, 
take  your  offer,  your  chance,  your  help  and  every 
cursed  thing  that  belongs  to  you  elsewhere.  Out 
of  your  clutches,  Countess  Puroff  may  have  a  chance 
of  happiness,  but  in  them,  I  would  as  soon  trust  a 
hungry  wolf  to  give  joy  to  a  lamb.  Torture  for  me 
eh  ?  Catch  me,  Anton  Gregorovitch.  Catch  me. 
Tell  your  tale  in  St.  Petersburg  and  there  isn't  a  man 
who  wouldn't  hinder  you  and  help  me.  Wish  I 
were  dead,  shall  I  ?  You  will  wish  you  were  on  the 
side  of  those  that  laugh.  Good-day,  your  Excellency, 
good-day.'' 

Stolemkin  withdrew  in  as  fine  as  fury  as  when 
he  entered.    There  was  wild  business  afoot. 


CHAPTER  XVI 


"  Look  down,  you  gods 
And  on  this  couple  drop  a  blessed  crown.'* 

— The  Tempest. 

COUNT  STOLEMKIN'S  position  had  features 
in  common  with  that  of  many  men  restrained 
by  the  imponderable  manacles  of  expediency. 
Desirous  of  wounding  and  yet  hesitating  to  strike. 
It  robs  desire  of  its  life  :  joy  is  knocked  out  of 
opportunity.  To  smile  while  we  hate  may  be  excel- 
lent discipline  :  it  is  execrable  feeling. 

Laughed  at,  derided,  braved  first  by  the  daughter 
of  a  peasant  and  then  by — by  an  adventurer  ! 
(He  did  not  forget  that  he  had  also  been  knocked 
down  by  the  woman  !) 

To  a  man  in  such  a  situation  sympathy  is  super- 
fluous aggravation.  He  wants  deeds — deeds  des- 
perate, gory,  cruel,  but  at  least  to  gratify  his  desire 
upon  his  enemies. 

And  in  the  meanwhile  he  hesitates  to  mention  to 
others  that  these  people  are  his  enemies  or  that  he 
has  any  at  all,  or  even  that  he  rages.  A  very  galling 
situation  ! 

Stolemkin  in  his  room  continued  his  raging. 
Cursing  cheered  him  a  little  but  accomplished  noth- 
ing.   He  wanted  schemes  now,  and  he  had  a  grave 

191 


192  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


dislike  to  inviting  official  Russia  to  a  knowledge  of 
his  plight.  He  did  fear  that  howl  of  laughter. 
Boasting  has  its  inconveniences.  Nature  has  a 
wonderful  way  of  balancing  things. 

A  Scheme !  A  Scheme !  A  Fortune  for  a 
Scheme  ! 

Stolemkin  tried  to  look  the  affair  not  only  full  in 
the  face,  but  round  it  and  at  every  angle.  His  great 
object  was  to  secure  the  person  of  Countess  Puroff 
before  she  fell  in  the  hands  of  Bulavin  or  Froloff,  or 
anything  equally  disastrous  (from  his  point  of  view) 
happened  to  her. 

He  grew  irritable,  for  no  reasonable  scheme  entered 
his  head.  His  brain  was  boggling  at  the  whole 
business.  In  the  ordinary  way  he  would  have 
ordered  Gordon  to  be  flogged  till  he  confessed.  Or 
Sofia — Stolemkin  was  not  particular.  But  they 
were  neither  his  serfs  nor  chattels,  and  that  way  was 
barred  unless — he  managed  it  very  discreetly,  or  he 
could  get  an  order,  say,  from  Count  Ostermann. 

It  was  an  idea.  There  was  no  time  to  be  lost. 
Bulavin  had  the  appearance  of  one  who  prepares  to 
crow.  Now  suppose  Count  Ostermann  were  deli- 
cately approached  and  made  to  see  that  the  trick 
was  contempt  of  him,  contempt  of  the  whole  Court, 
and  his  anger  were  roused  

This  seemed  a  promising  channel.  The  sails  of 
Stolemkin's  thoughts  filled  with  wind  and  his  ideas 
scudded  with  the  breeze.  Yes,  Ostermann  dragged 
in  would  give  power,  if  only  he  would  not  rob 
Stolemkin  of  the  prize.  Ostermann  was  powerful 
and  recognized  the  Russian  maxim  :  "  See  that  your 
office  keeps  you."    But  could  he  trust  Ostermann  ? 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


193 


A  shaky  trust !  Stolemkin  had  grave  doubts.  No 
wonder  he  was  worried.  He  was  half  inchned  to 
try  torture — a  Kttle  persuasiveness  that  was  all — 
on  his  own  account  on  Sofia,  say.  Why  should  she 
not  confess  ?  Or  he  might  try  bribery  ?  But  he 
recalled  her  attitude  and  motive.  He  cursed  old 
Glebof  for  dying,  taking  no  blame  to  himself  in  the 
matter. 

He  grew  more  irritable  still,  for  he  was  clearly  of 
opinion  that  either  Gordon  or  Sofia  must  help  him, 
and  he  could  find  no  way  to  make  either  of  them  his 
aid  

It  was  trying ! 

Then  he  thought  of  his  son.  His  despised,  beaten 
son  appeared  to  him  as  the  one  person  who  could  aid 
him.  The  brutal  father  rubbed  his  fat  hands  with 
unctuous  satisfaction,  for  a  son  owed  his  father 
obedience,  devotion,  etcetera,  etcetera.  Particu- 
larly a  son  like  Vasili  1  He  wondered  why  he  had 
not  thought  of  him  before.  Vasili  could  worm  the 
secret  from  his  wife  and  then  pass  it  on. 

Stolemkin  ceased  to  feel  irritated.  He  drank 
more  beer,  and  ordered  some  men  to  keep  a  strict 
watch  over  Gordon  and  not  to  let  him  go  out  of  St. 
Petersburg  under  any  circumstances. 

Now  Gordon  and  the  woman  would  see  whether 
their  bravado  would  help  them  

Vasili — the  woman's  husband  too  !  Really,  it 
seemed  as  if  the  laugh  was  to  be  on  the  other  side 
after  all. 

Stolemkin  patted  his  chest  (metaphorically). 
These  plotters  would  find  they  had  played  a  trick 
on  the  wrong  man  ! 


194  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Neither  did  Gordon  feel  comfortable. 

When  Stolemkin  had  gone  he  turned  to  Belof. 

"  He  is  a  brute,  Belof/'  he  said,  "  a  callous  brute. 
I  would  never  had  done  his  business  had  I  known 
what  it  all  meant,  and  I  am  glad  to  have  had  it  out 
with  him.  There  are  plenty  like  him.  If  you  don't 
hit  when  you  have  the  chance  somebody  will  hit 
you — that's  life,  Belof.  Caviare  and  diamonds  or 
stinking  fish  and  mill-stones  round  your  neck.  But 
now  we  want  the  open  country  and  Countess  Puroff." 

"  Yes,  yes,  Melania  Nicholovna,  let  us  go  to  her 
at  once,"  said  Belof,  to  whom  all  else  were  dead  sea 
fruit  or  the  eating  of  ashes. 

"  I  wish  we  could.  But  it  is  no  use  our  going 
unless  we  take  the  other  little  lady  with  us,  and  she 
has  the  nerve  of  a  lioness  and  won't  be  frightened 
out  of  the  place.  That  is  the  worst  of  women,  Belof  : 
there  is  no  middle  way  with  them.  Heaven  or  Hell 
and  no  rest  for  your  back  anywhere  else.  No  second 
best — not  when  they  are  worth  anything — for  them. 
All  or  nothing.  The  middle  folk  lot  are  only  jelly 
fish — Heaven  or  Hell.  It's  a  good  motto.  It 
happens  to  be  mine,  Belof,  and  Sofia,  daughter  of 
poor  old  Glebof,  is  as  fine  a  woman  as  ever  was  the 
Empress  Catherine,  and  the  Tsarina  couldn't  hold  a 
candle  to  Sofia  for  virtue." 

"  And  Melania  Nicholovna — ^you  will  not  forget 
her  ?  " 

"  Forget  her  ?  .  .  .  I  will  go  and  see  if  I  can 
meet  our  messenger  from  Glebof.  Stay  here  till  I 
return.  Forget  her  "  muttered  Gordon  to  him- 
self with  memories  unforgettable  in  his  heart. 

Sofia  was  not  desperate,  but  the  non-arrival  of 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  195 


Gordon  with  news  that  all  was  ready  for  the  depar- 
ture disturbed  her. 

She  and  Vasih  had  their  meals  together,  but  he 
had  spoken  little  since  he  had  learnt  who  she  was, 
and  that  she  had  married  him  merely  to  trick  his 
father. 

She  endured  the  silence  without  reproach,  feehng 
that  Vasili  had  a  grievance.  He,  however,  could 
not  resist  her  presence  altogether,  and  attempted 
casual  bits  of  conversation  that  were  wholly  without 
reference  to  themselves  or  their  feelings.  He  did 
not  even  ask  her  plans,  and  was  himself  beginning  to 
be  very  curious  concerning  them.  She  caught  him 
in  silent  moments  looking  at  her  fixedly  and  began 
to  ask  herself  unexpected  questions.  Somehow  she 
did  not  get  the  buoyant  and  full-blooded  joy  out  of 
the  business  that  she  had  anticipated.  The  trick 
on  the  father  was  exquisite  :  the  trick  on  the  son 
was  a  different  affair,  and  grew  more  different  with 
the  passing  of  the  hours. 

The  reader  will  not  forget  that  Vasili  and  Sofia 
are  man  and  wife  on  their  honeymoon !  Sofia 
thought  little  of  this  aspect  of  her  case  as  she  had 
much  else  to  think  of.  But  Vasili  considered  his 
position  ruefully.  Yet  somehow  he  regretted  noth- 
ing that  he  had  done  :  he  did  not  regret  the  marriage, 
and  looked  at  Sofia  every  now  and  then,  even  while 
he  tried  to  maintain  an  attitude  of  manly  dignity, 
with  the  eyes  of  a  lover. 

He  asked  her  wishes  and  studied  her  comfort 
in  a  restrained,  respectful  way — as  if  he  would  fain 
be  more  enthusiastic,  more  joyous  and  warm,  but 
must  be  as  he  was  for  his  manhood's  sake. 


196  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Do  you  require  anything  ?  "  he  would  ask. 
"  No— thank  you." 

He  felt  the  situation  was  tending  to  lead  them 
towards  the  impossible  :  a  crisis  of  some  kind  must 
be  reached  soon. 

The  day  Stolemkin  conceived  his  idea  of  persuad- 
ing his  son  to  interrogate  Sofia,  she  was  growing 
restless.  She  waited  now  with  eagerness  for  the 
message  to  come  from  Gordon  that  all  was  ready  for 
the  journey.  She  had  agreed  to  wait  for  the  signal 
since  the  preparations  were  being  made  by  others, 
otherwise  she  would  have  got  her  husband  to  engage 
horses  and  a  carriage.  The  non-arrival  of  the  mes- 
sage and  the  attitude  of  Stolemkin  were  disturbing 
factors  of  no  negligible  kind. 

As  Vasili  was  about  to  leave  her  she  said : 

"  I  am  waiting  for  a  message  from  Gordon/' 

"  Yes." 

"  If  he  does  not  come  or  send  soon,  I  should  like 
to  know  what  is  happening." 

"  Do  you  wish  me  to  try  to  communicate  with 
him  ?  " 

"  Can  you  ?  " 

"  I  think  so." 

"  I  shall  be  glad." 

"  At  once  ?  "  he  asked. 

*'  I  will  wait  till  the  afternoon,"  she  said. 

He  bowed  slightly  and  remained,  as  if  he  would 
prolong  the  conversation  or  the  contact  somehow  in 
the  hope  it  might  lead  to  something  better. 
You  are  anxious  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  It  is  time  I  heard." 
There  is  danger,  of  course,"  he  said,  realizing 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  197 


from  her  attitude  that  actual  danger  was  there,  rather 
than  some  vague  threat  of  his  father's. 
There  was  always  that." 

Vasili  began  to  upbraid  himself  for  his  dullness. 
He  had  been  so  disturbed  by  the  slight  to  himself 
that  he  had  not  really  grasped  the  extent  of  the 
danger  she  ran.  He  forgot  himself  almost  at  once  : 
he  was  the  perfect  lover. 

"  Sofia." 

She  almost  trembled.  She  was  wearing  a  dark 
green  velvet  robe  with  a  belt  of  gold.  She  put  her 
left  hand  to  her  breast  at  the  music  of  Vasili's 
tenderness. 

Yes,"  she  said  in  a  guarded  voice,  emotions  of 
various  kinds  toppling  over  each  other  in  their 
haste  for  expression. 

"  What  will  happen  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know." 

"  But  it  may  be  serious — very  serious." 
"  It  may  be,"  she  said  calmly  now. 
"  Prison— oh  !  " 

"  We — I  shall  escape,"  she  said. 

He  looked  at  her  strangely  again  :  as  if  he  would 
fathom  her  heart  and  know  his  own  strength  at  the 
same  time.  The  "  we — I  "  touched  him.  It  was 
the  kind  of  thing  to  stir  a  man  in  love.  "  We — I," 
it  was  more  than  he  could  grapple  with.  What 
did  she  mean  ?  Would  she  go  without  him  ? 
Married  him  for  a  trick  and  would  now  leave  him. 
.  .  .  This  was  contempt !  And  yet,  Vasili  had 
seen  a  look  that  told  him  to  hope,  and  Hope  is  the 
most  faithful  of  a  good  man's  friends. 

Vasili  ventured :  "  We,  Sofia." 


198  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


It  was  her  turn  for  the  look  of  wonder.  She 
looked  back  at  him  with  wonderful  directness : 
she  seemed  in  a  mood  for  giving  or  asking. 

"  Do  you  wish  ?  "  she  asked. 

He  came  closer  to  her. 

"  Yes,"  and  then  he  stood  still  with  deference  and 
waiting  and  a  great  patience. 

She  had  both  hands  on  her  bosom  now. 
Now  that  you  know  all,"  she  said,  "  are  you 
angry  ?  " 

Angry."  He  almost  shouted  the  word  in  deri- 
sion and  her  heart  went  beating  to  the  accents.  He 
laughed  oddly,  so  oddly  that  she  went  paler  and 
longed  to  be  extravagant. 

"  Sofia,"  he  said,  "  I  love  you." 

"  Even  now  ?  "    There  was  a  quaver  in  her  voice 
she  had  not  dreamed  possible  with  her.    Love  can 
search  at  the  depths  of  us  and  all  our  secret  places. 
It  makes  no  difference,"  he  said. 

"  Had  I  known  she  began. 

"  Well  ?  " 

"  I  would  not  have  done  it.    But  he — my  father." 

"  Sofia,  I  love  you."  He  was  still  gentle  and  not 
daring,  assuming  an  attitude  of  deference. 

She  sat  down  and  looked  at  him  in  wonder.  This 
was  so  different  from  the  blood-spilling  life  she  had 
seen  for  so  long.  Vasili  was  no  cut-throat  such  as 
the  men  she  had  herded  with.  War  and  brigandage 
were  businesses  of  the  day  and,  if  one  lives  with 
butchers  it  is  ridiculous  to  be  surprised  at  the 
sight  of  blood.  Besides,  rough  language,  rough 
ways,  contempt  of  life,  no  shirking  of  cruelty,  the 
absence  of  courtesy  and  all  things  gentle  were  the 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  199 


setting  of  her  life  in  the  woods.  She  had  not  minded  : 
she  did  not  mind  those  things  now.  They  had  a 
tone  and  savour  when  Count  Stolemkin  came  to 
bluster  and  boast.  But  with  Vasili  and  the  ways  of 
love  they  had  nothing  in  common.  It  was  a  change 
gigantic,  striking  awe. 

A  peasant's  daughter  and  a  brigand's  sister,  loved 
by  this  tender  Vasili. 

"  Let  us  forget,"  he  murmured,  as  he  came  to  her, 
putting  one  knee  on  the  ground. 

She  put  one  hand  on  his  shoulder :  he  seized  on 
the  other  and  kissed  it.  Her  bosom  heaved  and  she 
felt  like  a  penitent  with  almost  mad  resolves. 

She  was  not  weak,  and  had  suffered  too  much  and 
seen  too  much  to  behave  like  an  ordinary  woman. 
But  she  was  tingling.  The  hand  on  Vasili's  shoulder 
gripped  him  like  the  claws  of  an  eagle.  He  stared  at 
her  caressing  her  hand.  She  was  too  moved  to  speak, 
and  tears  were  not  her  outlet. 

"  Sofia  "    He  was  not  over  eloquent  himself. 

She  looked  at  him  with  eyes  magnificently  bright 
— stars  in  the  blue  were  like  flakes  of  snow,  lifeless 
and  feeble  beside  Sofia's  eyes,  said  Vasili  afterwards. 

She  did  not  speak  and  he  did  not  mind,  for  he  felt 
equal  with  the  angels.  He  got  up  and  put  a  hand 
on  her  head  and  stroked  her  hair,  while  she  breathed 
like  a  race-horse. 

He  wanted  to  kiss  her,  but  his  spirit  was  weak  and 
his  frame  a-dancing. 

She  suddenly  gripped  him  tight  with  both  hands. 

"  By  God  !  you  are  my  husband,  Vasili.  You  are 
mine,  Vasili.    I  will  have  you.    I  will  be  your  wife." 

"  Sofia,  Sofia,"  he  cried,  his  voice  beside  the  high 


200  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


resolving  note  in  her  sounding  feeble,  but  as  true  as 
the  tender  rapier. 
Then  she  kissed  him. 

It  was  he  who  wept  for  joy  and  looked  wildly  to 
Heaven  as  if  he  had  been  told  the  tales  of  mysteries. 

And  when  they  were  in  this  humour — ^with  fairies 
dancing  round  him,  at  any  rate — Stolemkin  burst 
upon  them  in  his  wrath. 

They  were  together,  Vasili  beside  her,  his  face 
like  the  Saint  on  a  Rafael  picture,  just  the  kind  of 
thing  that  the  big  Stolemkin,  with  his  eyes  on 
things  that  served  the  stomach,  could  not  appreciate. 

"  Get  up,  you  fool/'  he  began,  the  very  attitude 
lashing  his  fury. 

Vasili  got  up,  not  because  his  father  bade  him, 
but  because  the  attitude  of  a  lover  is  not  for  show. 
When  it  is,  it  would  be  a  tough  job  to  find  the  love. 

"  I  want  to  speak  to  you  alone,"  the  big  Count 
thundered. 

Vasili  hesitated.  Thunder  had  less  effect  on  him 
than  had  been  its  wont.  He  gazed  at  his  father  with 
more  confidence  (an  enraging  attitude  to  a  man  like 
Stolemkin)  and  then  turned  to  Sofia. 

"  Do  you  mind  ?  "  he  asked.  Not  if  you  do, 
Sofia  ?  " 

For  an  moment  she  was  tempted.  She  felt  she 
could  have  scored  off  this  bully  if  she  had  set  his 
son  against  him  ;  and  to  do  that  were  an  easy  thing 
now ;  but  she  was  subdued  a  little — not  in  courage 
but  in  temper.    Love  is  the  great  alchemy. 

"  You  would  like  to  talk  to  your  father  ?  " 

"  Y-yes." 

"  I  will  leave  you." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


20I 


She  walked  slowly  towards  the  door,  ignoring 
the  Count  as  if  he  had  been  a  serf,  while  Vasili  accom- 
panied her,  opened  the  door  and  looked,  when  he 
returned  to  his  father,  as  if  his  treasure  were  outside 
the  room. 

Stolemkin  was  astonished.  After  knowing  that 
the  woman  was  the  daughter  of  a  peasant  and  had 
only  married  for  spite,  Vasili  treated  her  like  that. 

Stolemkin's  face  got  redder. 

Vasili  faced  him  with  unprecedented  courage. 

More  alchemy. 


CHAPTER  XVII 


The  best  may  err  and  the  most  cautious  fall." 

STOLEMKIN  was  clothed  in  blue  to-day,  dark 
blue  with  enamel  buttons.  His  linen  was 
choice  and  he  looked  a  sturdy  man  in  his  ample 
calves  and  big  shoulders. 

He  approached  Vasili  almost  menacingly,  as  he 
had  ever  done. 

That  baggage,"  he  said,  "  that  pest  of  a  noi- 


"  Father  !  "  said  VasiH,  white  but  still. 
Stolemkin  looked  amazed.    It  was  clear  expostu- 
lation. 

"  Name  of  a  Saint !  what  are  you  fathering  about  ? 
What  do  you  mean  by  cuddling  close  to  that  scum 
of  a  woman  as  if  she  were  a  fit  mate  for  you  ?  " 

"  She  is  my  wife." 

"  Your  wife — that  besom  !  Yes,  but  by  all  the 
names  of  the  stars  she  will  soon  cease  to  be  your 

wife  " 

I  hope  not,  sir." 

Stolemkin  stamped  on  the  floor  like  a  giant.  He 
looked  at  his  son  and  then  strode  nearer  grabbing 
him  by  the  arm  fiercely  when  he  was  within  reach. 
His  son  Vasili  the  sheep-like  creature,  talking  to 
him  like  this ! 

901 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  203 


"  She  will  soon  cease  to  be  your  wife,"  he  repeated 
slowly.  "  Cease  to  be  your  wife,  do  you  hear  ?  You 
dare  to  hope  not.  By  Heaven  !  do  you  want  to  be 
glued  to  a  cat  from  Hell  ?  What !  "  He  shook  his 
son,  as  he  might  have  shaken  a  young  sapling  ;  but 
somehow  he  did  not  shake  the  look  from  Vasili's 
eyes  and  his  son  was  not  the  son  he  had  been. 

Stolemkin  did  not  notice  all  these  things  at  once. 
Tyranny  generally  makes  the  tyrant  blind  until  it 
is  too  late  for  him  to  have  his  eyes  opened  for  any 
use. 

"  Glebof's  daughter — the  spawn  of  a  peasant ! 
You  know  who  and  what  she  is  ?  " 
"  Yes." 

*'  You  look  strange,  my  son,"  said  Stolemkin  with 
a  little  discernment.  What  the — phew  !  Has 
she  been  trying  her  witch  tricks  on  you  ?  A  woman, 
eh  ?  Because  she  has  a  fine  breast  you  are  like  a 
babe  at  the  milk.  Bah  !  There  are  hundreds  of 
fine  women  in  St.  Petersburg,  you  booby.  Leave 
the  spawn  alone.  I'll  crush  her  to  a  jelly.  Has 
she  told  you  where  Countess  Puroff  is  ?  " 

Vasili  did  not  answer  speedily. 

"  Did  you  hear  ?  "  shouted  Stolemkin. 

"  Yes.    No,  she  has  not  told  me." 

"  Then  I  want  you  to  get  the  tale  from  her.  That 
is  what  I  have  come  for.  Do  you  want  to  be  the 
sport  of  St.  Petersburg  ?  Married  to  a  child  of  one 
of  my  own  men.    By  Heaven  !  but  she  shall  pay." 

Stolemkin  strode  angrily,  as  if  roused  to  fresh 
fury  by  his  proximity  to  the  author  of  his  worry. 

"  What  has  she  told  you  ?  "  he  suddenly  asked. 

"  What  about  ?  " 


204  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  About  herself — about  her  damned  trick  ?  " 
Nothing." 

"  Nothing,  eh  ?  Keeps  it  to  herself,  I  suppose. 
But  what  in  the  devil's  name  were  you  sitting  beside 
her  for  ?  What  are  you  ?  A  Stolemkin  ?  She's 
spawn,  she's  scum — a  baggage,  worse  even." 

"  Whatever  she  is,  she  is  my  wife." 

"  Your  wife.  ...  Be  quiet,  you  fool !  Do  you 
think  she  is  always  going  to  be  your  wife  ?  Am  I 
to  be  tricked  by  a  besom  like  that  ?  I'll  see  her 
flogged  to  ribbons  first.  And  what  do  you  mean  by 
saying  she  is  your  wife  ?  "    His  aspect  was  fierce. 

"  I — I  don't  like  to  hear  you  call  her  names." 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  "  It  was  a  tempestuous  outburst ; 
but  there  was  no  jollity  in  it.  It  was  scorn  gigantic 
and  piercing.  Stolemkin  was  not  genial  even  in  his 
irony  and  he  dropped  from  the  grinning  note  to  one 
of  fury.  "  You  don't  like  to  hear  her  called  names. 
Who  cares  for  what  you  like  ?  You  will  hear  what  I 
like  and  when  I  like,  and  I  will  give  you  twice  as 
much  as  you  don't  like  if  you  defend  that  rotten 

egg.    You  splinter  shanks  !    You  ach  !  "  He 

pushed  his  son  violently,  and  Vasili  tottered  half  a 
dozen  yards. 

Stolemkin  was  in  one  of  his  choicest  moods,  no 
doubt  stirred  by  the  affectionate  attitude  in  which 
he  had  discovered  Vasili  and  Sofia.    He  went  on 

muttering  :  Baggage — fool — his  wife  "  and 

his  snorts  and  notes  of  contempt  were  both  varied 
and  plentiful.  He  sobered  at  last  as  even  the  hottest 
must. 

"  So  she  has  told  you  nothing,  eh  ?  Well,  you 
understand  the  position,  don't  you  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  205 


Vasili  did  not  answer. 

"  Do  you  hear  ?     bawled  Stolemkin. 

"  I  understand  that  I  am  married/'  said  Vasih 
quietly,  and  the  very  calmness  of  the  answer  seemed 
to  stir  the  father's  wrath  to  fresh  boiling.  He  gazed 
at  his  son  in  wonder. 

"  She's  witched  you/'  he  said.  "  You  lamb  !  you 
mere  child  of  a  man  !  All  women  are  the  same  the 
first  time  you — pah  !  What  a  son  !  You  haven't 
got  the  strength  of  a  basin  of  soup.  Letting  a 
woman  like  that  get  hold  of  you.  By  Heaven  !  sir, 
have  a  care.  Leave  that  woman  alone — except  as 
I  bid  you.  I  want  to  know  where  Countess  Puroff 
is,  and  that  you  must  get  from  her  ?  " 

"  She  may  not  wish  to  tell." 

"  You  must  make  her." 

"  If  I  cannot  ?  " 

"  Cannot !  You  are  all  cannot.  If  you  must 
cross  a  town  you  are  afraid.  You  fear  to  meet  a 
woman,  but  having  met  her  you  fear  to  leave  her. 
Be  a  man  !  you  heart  of  a  fish.  Be  a  man  !  My 
stars  !  That  I  bred  such  a  creature  !  "  He  looked 
contemptuous.  Vasili  was  silent,  feeling  that  per- 
haps he  was  a  poor  thing  of  a  man  but  conscious  of 
something  he  held  beautiful. 

Stolemkin  turned  to  his  son  again. 

"  Perhaps,  after  all,  your  ditch-crouching  style 
will  serve  as  well  as  another.  But  you  must  get 
the  information  from  her.  It  is  vital,  you  under- 
stand ?  " 

"  Tell  me  the  information  you  want." 
Stolemkin  detected  in  Vasili's  voice  and  bearing 
a  difference  and  it  annoyed  him.    He  was  about  to 


2o6  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


burst  forth  in  anger  once  more,  but  a  remembrance 
of  the  futihty  of  that  method  in  this  house  checked 
him.  Besides  his  son  had  said  nothing  disre- 
spectful. 

"  We  know  now  who  the  baggage  is,"  he  said. 
"  You  are  not  a  fool  over  that.  She  is  a  common 
lump'of  mud,  and  you  married  her  because  she  passed 
herself  off  as  Countess  Puroff.  If  you  don't  want 
every  postboy  in  St.  Petersburg  to  whistle  at  you 
as  you  pass,  we  must  find  the  real  Countess  and  get 
her  to  St.  Petersburg  before  anybody  else  gets  hold 
of  her,  you  understand  that  ?  " 

"  I  understand  what  you  desire." 

"  You  are  really  bright  at  last,"  sneered  Stolem- 
kin.  "  Now  this  vixen  knows  where  Countess 
Puroff  is,  but  she  may  not  wish  to  tell.  She  will 
have  to  tell  eventually  if  she  has  to  be  flogged  to 
tell,  so  you  can  think  of  your  heifer's  back  look- 
ing like  a  piece  of  meat  in  a  butcher's  shop  if  you 
don't  get  this  information  from  her  peacefully  and 
speedily." 

You  will  not  hurt  her,  sir  ?  " 

"  Not  hurt  her  !  .  .  .  You  white-feathered  soul !  I 
would  tear  her  limb  from  limb  for  trying  to  make 
me  the  laughing-stock  of  the  Court.  I  may  spare 
her  a  little — she  may  be  spared  torture  altogether 
if  she  will  give  the  information  we  want.  But, 
by  Heaven  !  if  she  refuses,  she  shall  pay.  Phew  ! 
How  she  shall  pay  !  " 

"  If  she  tells,  what  will  you  do  ?  "  Vasili  asked 
eagerly. 

"  That  is  my  business." 

*'  And  not  mine,  sir  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  207 


"  No,  not  yours,  sir.  You  will  do  as  you  are  bid. 
When  we  have  got  the  real  Countess  then  we  will 
divorce  this  baggage,  see  her  whipped,  and  marry 
you  to  your  proper  wife." 

Vasili  was  white.    He  hesitated. 

"  I  do  not  want  her  to  be  hurt,"  he  muttered, 
feeling  the  strokes  already. 

"  Do  not  want  her  to  be  hurt,"  repeated  Stolem- 
kin  with  boisterous  mockery.  "  Get  the  information 
from  her  and  change  the  colour  of  your  yolk,  you 
skin  of  an  egg." 

Vasili  was  not  a  courageous  man  :  so  much  is 
admitted.  But  bulHes  are  not  courageous.  It  is 
easy  for  the  big  to  threaten  the  small ;  but  the 
feeble  who  fears  and  yet  dares  has  the  spirit  of  the 
God  of  Courage. 

"  I  would  save  her,"  said  Vasili.  "  I  will  ask 
her — ^but  I  cannot  divorce  her." 

Stolemkin  was  inclined  to  be  contemptuous.  He 
felt  in  the  humour  to  disregard  all  his  son  said  so 
long  as  the  object  he  came  for  was  attained.  And 
all  his  life  he  had  made  Vasili  do  as  he  wished,  so  he 
did  not  easily  contemplate  opposition. 

"  Cannot."  He  sneered  openly.  "  But  you  will," 
he  said,  scarcely  looking  at  his  son  as  if  tiie  decree 
settled  the  matter. 

"  I  cannot,"  repeated  Vasili,  urged  by  some 
brave  little  fairy  within  him  to  take  a  stand  for 
courage  and  love. 

You  will  do  as  I  want,"  said  Stolemkin.  "  You 
will  get  what  I  ask  for  out  of  this  woman,  or  I  will 
have  her  flogged  so  that  you  shall  not  know  her,  and 
you  shall  divorce  her  if  I  have  to  marry  you  after- 


2o8  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


wards  to  one  of  the  army  hags  that  is  up  to  her  eyes 
in  sores." 

VasiU  was  breathing  fast  and  his  face  was  drawn. 

"  As  long  as  I  hve/'  he  said,  "  and  as  long  as  Sofia 
wills,  I  shall  be  her  husband." 

He  said  it  with  a  burst.  He  had  screwed  himself 
up  and  his  head  was  in  the  clouds.  White  as  a 
corpse,  trembling  with  emotion,  he  had  at  last  the 
courage,  not  of  despair,  but  of  resolution  and  duty. 
It  is  a  fine  attribute.  Stolemkin  came  towards  him 
like  a  buU.  His  great  fat  neck  was  swollen  and  red 
and  his  big  hands  closed  on  Vasili's  throat.  He 
shook  his  son  :  shook  him  again  and  again.  Vasili 
was  pale  and  listless,  for  he  had  no  idea  of  attempt- 
ing physical  opposition — the  other  had  been  enough. 

"  You  dare  ?  You  miserable  wench  of  a  man  ! 
You  dare  tell  me  you  will  not  do  as  I  want  ?  I  will 
shake  the  life  out  of  you." 

"  Father,"  Vasili  gasped,  and  for  the  first  time  in 
his  life  attempted  to  prevent  his  father  doing  him 
violence.  He  tried  to  pull  the  hands  from  his 
throat. 

"  Father  !  "  shouted  Stolemkin.  "  You  infernal 
fish  !  "  and  then  he  threw  him  on  the  floor  with  a 
heavy  thud. 

He  looked  as  if  he  would  like  to  continue  violently 
now  he  had  begun,  for  his  hands  moved  restlessly 
and  he  looked  at  Vasili  not  as  a  parent,  but  as  a  task- 
master with  a  recalcitrant  slave. 

Then  Sofia  came  in,  and  her  eyes  sought  Vasili 
at  once.  She  turned  to  the  father  with  a  courage 
vastly  different  from  Vasili's.  Here  was  no  defer- 
ence, no  apology  for  the  attitude,  no  regret  for  the 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


209 


opposition,  no  submission,  but  a  look  of  fight,  of 
invitation,  equality.  It  was  surprising  perhaps  in 
one  of  her  birth,  but  some  stiff-necked  nomad,  who 
looked  to  the  sun  and  a  stout  horse  and  kissed  no 
other  man's  foot,  probably  ran  in  her. 

Stolemkin  took  stock  of  her  speedily  and  noticed  a 
fine  long  dagger  in  her  hand. 

"  So,  baggage  !  that  is  your  game,"  he  said. 

"  What  is  yours  ?     she  replied. 

"  My  God  !  you  " 

"  Mine  was  you." 

"  You  match  yourself  against  me  ?  Pouf  !  You 
will  find  yourself  with  a  raw  back  one  day,  my 
viper,  and  that  day  will  come  sooner  than  you  think." 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  Have  they  begun  to  jeer  yet  at  Court  ?  "  she 
asked  calmly. 

Vasili  wondered  at  such  braving  :  but  the  spirit 
had  been  knocked  out  of  him  early  and  it  takes  time 
and  much  encouragement  to  tempt  courage  back 
to  the  feeble. 

Stolemkin  looked  as  if  he  would  rush  on  the  girl. 

"  You  have  not  felt  the  knout,  eh  ?  It  tickles, 
girl.    The  mud  will  come  from  your  blood  then." 

"  Did  you  come  to  tell  us  this,  or  to  try  and 
frighten  your  son  ?  " 

"  I  came  to  give  you  a  chance." 

She  pointed  to  Vasili. 

"  Is  that  what  you  call  giving  me  a  chance  ?  " 
"  I  came,"  he  said,  "  to  save  you  torture.  Tell 

me  where  Countess  Puroff  is  and  " 

"  Well  ?  " 
You  will  probably  avoid  the  knout." 

o 


210  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Do  you  take  me  for  a  fool  ?  " 
"  Most  rogues  are  fools." 

"  Then  you  are  a  wretched  mixture,"  she  retorted 
quickly. 

"  Don't  try  those  tricks  of  words  on  me.  I  will 
tell  you,  woman,  what  I  mean  to  do.  You  are  a 
prisoner  here  and  will  remain  one  till  I  find  Countess 
Puroff.  If  I  get  that  lady  in  my  hands,  you  may 
get  off  lightly  :  if  you  help  me,  I  will  do  my  best  to 
get  your  punishment  light.  If  you  refuse,  I  shall 
lay  before  Count  Ostermann  the  details  of  your 
imposture.  He  will  be  furious  at  you,  for  he  has 
put  his  house  at  your  disposal,  and  a  flogging,  the 
loss  of  your  tongue  and  banishment  to  Siberia  will 
then  be  the  least  punishment  you  can  hope  for." 

Vasili  groaned. 

"  Hear  the  maid  !  He  doesn't  like  the  prospect. 
Now  you  know  what  I  mean  to  do  you  will,  perhaps, 
tell  me  what  you  know." 

Sofia  paused  a  moment.  Vasili  looked  at  her 
pleadingly,  as  if  he  would  persuade  her  to  do  all  she 
could  to  escape  the  awful  doom  that  threatened  her. 

"  Suppose  I  tell  you,"  she  asked,  "  shall  I — we — 
be  free  to  go  at  once  ?  " 

"  I — we,"  he  repeated  as  Vasili  had  done  ;  but  he 
did  not  notice  his  son's  radiant  look  at  Sofia's  cor- 
rection, nor  did  he  reproduce  it.  He  jerked  his 
head  up  with  a  snter  and  then  checked  himself. 
After  all,  he  wanted  the  information. 

"  You  may  lie  to  me." 

"  If  I  tell  you  then,  you  do  not  mean  to  let  me 
go?" 

"  I  must  be  sure  I  have  Countess  Puroff  first." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  211 


She  paused. 

"  Suppose  the  Countess  were  brought  to  you — 
but  I  could  not  trust  you,"  she  suddenly  said. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  Vasili  eagerly. 

"  Be  silent !  "  shouted  Stolemkin.  "  If  you  will 
arrange  for  Countess  Puroff  to  be  brought  to  me,  I 
will  give  you  my  word  that  you  shall  go  out  of  this 
house  where  you  will." 

"  I  do  not  trust  you,"  muttered  Sofia,  as  if  conning 
the  thing  in  her  mind. 

"  There  is  the  alternative,"  he  said. 

"  I  do  not  happen  to  be  afraid,"  she  retorted  a 
little  proudly.  * 

''It  is  unpleasant,  the  knout.  It  cuts — it  can 
kill." 

"  Sofia  !  "  said  Vasih. 
"  Well  ?  " 

"  Save  yourself,  if  you  can.'* 
"  I  do  not  trust  him,"  she  said,  pointing  to  Count 
Stolemkin. 

"  She  shall  go  free,"  said  Vasili,    if  she  tells  ?  " 

"  If  she  brings  Countess  Puroff  to  me,"  he  said. 
"  Telling — that  is  not  enough.  In  that  case  she 
waits  till  the  Countess  comes." 

"  I  will  think  it  over,"  she  said. 

"  I  cannot  give  you  long :  there  are  others  on 
the  scent  of  this  business." 

"  How  long  ?  "  she  asked. 
Twenty-four  hours." 

"  It  is  short— but  I  will  see." 

Stolemkin  turned  to  his  son. 

"  Think  of  her  back  if  she  keeps  stubborn  and 
remind  her  of  the  feeling  when  the  salt  goes  in." 


212  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Then  he  went. 

When  VasiU  and  Sofia  were  alone  he  turned  to 
her,  asking — 

"  What  will  you  do  ?  " 

"  She  put  her  hand  on  his  neck. 

"  He  struck  you,"  she  said. 

He  felt  imparadised  by  her  tenderness. 

"  It  was  nothing,"  he  said. 

She  looked  at  him  with  softened  eyes  that  told  a 
tale  of  other  things  than  flogging  and  imposture. 
He  did  not  remember  to  have  seen  expressions  like  it 
before — his  mother  had  died  when  he  was  a  child — 
but  he  understood  it  well  enough.  Only  those  on 
whom  affection  is  wasted  miss  the  love  look  in  the  eye. 

He  put  his  hands  very  gently  on  her  shoulders  ; 
the  air  of  a  man  tender  and  delicately  constituted. 

To  her  he  was  something  so  out  of  the  common, 
so  unexpected,  that  the  realism  of  what  he  was 
disturbed  her  immoderately. 

She  flung  her  arms  round  his  neck. 

"  Kiss  me,"  she  said. 

He  kissed  her,  not  wildly,  delicately  and  as  one 
granted  a  heavenly  favour.  But  she  kissed  him 
passionately.      ^  . 

My  husband  !  my  husband !  "  It  was  she 
who  was  in  love  now.  You  are  sure  you  are  happy, 
Vasili  ?  " 

"  I  have  never  been  so  happy." 

"  And  you  forgive  me  ?  " 

"  There  is  nothing  to  forgive.  I  count  myself 
lucky." 

She  pressed  him  passionately  to  her  and  held  him 
for  some  moments  before  she  spoke. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


213 


"  I  do  not  deserve  it,"  she  said.  It  was  his 
fault,  VasiH,  my  husband,  my  love/' 

"  I  will  be  whatever  you  want  me  to  be,"  he  said, 
scarcely  master  of  himself,  so  whirHng  were  his 
joyous  feelings. 

"  Yes — yes.  You  are  a  saint — a  gentleman.  But 
we  must  get  away,  dear."  She  looked  in  poise  for 
action  now.    "  Your  father  will  act." 

"  Yes." 

"  We  must  act  first." 
"  What  shall  we  do  ?  " 

"  My  brother  was  to  arrange  for  my  departure, 
and  I  await  his  messenger.  But  we  cannot  afford 
to  wait  now.  We  must  arrange  ourselves.  Gordon 
will  do  it." 

"  I  will  tell  him." 
Yes.    But  at  once.    I  suppose  there  are  men 
here  to  keep  me  a  prisoner  ?  " 

"  We  will  fight  them,  if  need  be." 

*'  We  can  trick  them.  But  we  must  leave  this 
place,  leave  St.  Petersburg,  get  to  the  woods."  She 
paused.  But  you,  Vasili,"  she  said  tenderly, 
'*  how  win  you  like  the  woods  ?  " 

"  If  you  are  there  I  shall  be  happy  ;  and  where  you 
are  not,  there  I  shall  not  wish  to  be." 

She  came  very  near  to  tears.  To  be  loved  as 
Vasili  loved  her  was  more  touching  than  anything 
she  had  ever  experienced.    But  she  mastered  herself. 

"  We  shall  be  safe  there,  at  any  rate,"  she  said. 

"  Then  we  will  go :  they  must  not  take  you, 
Sofia." 

"  Will  you  go  to  Gordon  ?  They  will  let  you 
pass  perhaps." 


214  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Yes.    If  not,  we  can  send  Marie." 

"  Yes.  She  went  out  this  morning  to  call  on 
an  uncle,  she  said.  Marie  is  a  fool,  still  she  will 
serve  if  she  has  returned." 

"  But  I  will  go,  Sofia  :  they  will  not  stop  me." 

"  Tell  him  to  prepare  at  once  to  go.  We  want 
a  carriage,  and  in  some  fashion  I  must  leave  here 
either  by  ruse  or  force.  Only  it  is  expedient  we 
leave  at  once." 

Vasili  went :  it  was  the  woman  the  men  had  been 
told  to  keep  a  prisoner.  But  when  Sofia  went  to 
look  for  Marie  she  did  not  find  her. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


Through  perils  both  of  wind  and  limb, 
Through  thick  and  thin  she  followed  him." 

— Hudibras. 


'ASILI  went  out  as  he  had  rarely  marched  into 


V  the  streets.  You  would  scarcely  have  recog- 
nized him  again.  There  was  vitality  in  his  walk  and 
purpose  in  his  eye.  He  was  not  of  the  swaggering 
order,  but  there  was  about  him  an  air  of  I  am 
Somebody  "  (somebody  loved  and  loving  perhaps — 
a  wonderful  thing,  this  love  .  .  .). 

He  had  a  job  to  find  Gordon's  rooms  and  was 
lucky  to  catch  him  crossing  the  threshold. 

They  got  to  business  at  once,  for  Gordon  was 
quite  alive  to  the  seriousness  of  his  position  and 
Sofia's.  He  had  been  out  seeking  Glebof 's  messenger 
and  failed  to  find  him.  (That  poor  creature  was 
lying  in  a  ditch  twenty  versts  outside  the  confines 
of  St.  Petersburg  with  a  cracked  skull.  Life  became 
a  risky  thing  if  a  man  moved  from  town  to  town  in 
the  brave  days  of  old — and  not  so  very  old  either.) 
Gordon  shut  the  door  of  his  room. 
"  Vasili  Antonovitch,  what  does  this  mean  ?  " 
he  asked.  Gordon  was  struck,  not  only  with  the 
presence  of  Vasili,  which  suggested  things  out  of  the 
common,  but  with  his  demeanour.    That  was  dis- 


215 


2i6  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


tinctly  out  of  the  common.  Love  had  put  its  seal 
on  him  in  other  ways  than  uxoriously,  as  was  to  be 
expected  with  one  of  Vasih's  sensitiveness.  He 
dared  where  before  he  feared ;  he  entered  where 
he  used  to  stand  and  wonder.  That  was  the  love 
beaming  in  his  eye.  Vasili  was  approaching  man- 
hood at  a  gallop. 

"  It  is  Sofia — my  wife."  He  mentioned  the  last 
proudly,  not  explanatorily.  A  pile  of  thoughts  came 
crowding  over  Gordon.  Vasili  was  not  such  a  fool 
as  he  had  appeared.  .  .  .  What  has  Sofia  been 
doing  ?  .  .  .  This  is  no  simpering  bread  and  milk 
child.  .  .  .  He  will  be  a  husband  and  a  man  after 
all.  .  .  . 

These  and  kindred  other  ideas  came  to  Gordon 
as  Vasili  looked,  stood  and  talked. 
"  Eh— well  ?  " 

"  We  would  leave  St.  Petersburg  at  once." 
(Note  the  we 
"  Trouble,  eh  ?  " 

"  Yes.    But  some  one  was  to  come  ?  " 

"  Aye,  Vasili  Antonovitch,  there  is  always  some 
one  to  come  in  this  hotch-potch  world,  and  generally 
somebody  who  doesn't  come ;  haven't  you  noticed 
it  ?  " 

"  No.    But  it  may  be  true  " 

Phew  !  "  blurted  Gordon,  "it  is  easy  to  see, 
some  one  has  come  for  you." 

"  Louis  Alexandre vitch,  she  must  be  saved.  It  is 
my  father." 

"  The  old  wolf  is  on  the  track,  is  he  ?    And  does 
he  ignore  the  cackle  ?    Or  is  he  just  bluffing  ?  " 
He  knows  all.    He  knows  who  Sofia  Petrovna 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  217 

was,  and  he  swears  she  shall  be  punished  unless  he 
finds  out  where  Countess  Puroff  is." 

"  Where  Countess  Puroff  is  ?  What  the  devil 
does  he  want  to  know  that  for  now  ?  "  Gordon 
became  a  little  more  anxious  now. 

Vasili  shrugged  his  shoulders,  new  man  that  he 
was. 

He  hopes  for  a  divorce  and  a  remarriage."  The 
tone  was  exquisite.  Old  Stolemkin  would  almost 
have  had  a  fit  in  rage  and  astonishment  at  it.  Vasili 
was  treating  the  tyrant  and  bully  of  a  lifetime  to 
sheer  pleasant  contempt,  and  thoroughly  genuine 
in  the  bargain. 

There  was  no  need  for  Gordon  to  ask  Vasili  what 
he  thought  of  the  Count's  idea,  for  it  was  betrayed 
so  handsomely  in  the  tone.  He  looked  at  Vasili  in 
admiration  and  clapped  him  on  the  shoulder. 

Vasili  Antonovitch,"  he  said,  "  the  day  of 
miracles  is  not  past.  You  have  been  born  again. 
You  are  a  new  man.  What  is  in  your  veins,  Vasili  ?  " 

Fire — but  you  know." 
"  Aye,  by  the  saints  !  I  know.  Praise  be  to 
Heaven  and  Mistress  Sofia.  But  this  is  rich.  I  feel 
as  if  I  had  met  a  companion  who  could  lead  when  I 
was  tired."  He  repeated  Vasili's  phrase  with  a 
little  exaggeration  in  the  utterance.  "  He  hopes  for 
a  divorce  and  a  remarriage.  That  is  uncommonly 
good.  I  never  thought  to  see  this  day  come  to  you, 
Vasili,  and  may  I  be  forgiven  for  trying  a  trick  on 
you  ?  " 

Vasili  held  out  his  hand  quickly. 
"  It  is  a  trick  I  shall  not  forget,"  he  said.    "  I 
shall  always  be  grateful." 


2i8  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Gordon  was  silent  for  a  moment,  Vasili's  magnani- 
mity being  out  of  the  line  of  the  average  fighting 
man.  He  gave  voice  almost  involuntarily  to  another 
idea. 

"  What  would  have  happened  if  it  had  not  taken 
you  like  this  ?  Gordon  said,  and  jerked  his  head  as 
if  he  nodded  back  to  imagination's  salutation. 

"  But  now,"  said  Vasili,  "it  is  the  present  that 
counts." 

"  It  always  is,  and  the  past — damn  it !  on  occasions, 
and  sometimes  the  future,"  said  Gordon.  But 
for  us  it  is  the  present,  Vasili,  my  hero.  How  to 
get  out  of  St.  Petersburg — that  is  the  problem,  eh  ?  " 

"  With  my  wife." 

"  Yes,  with  your  wife.    Well,  as  perhaps  you 

know,  I  wait  for  a  messenger  from  Glebof  " 

Sofia's  brother  ?  " 
"  Yes." 

Can  we  wait  longer  ?  Time  presses  and  I 
know  my  father.  If  he  cannot  win  he  will  have 
vengeance." 

We  cannot  wait,"  said  Gordon.  "  I  almost  fear 
we  have  waited  too  long  already,  and  that  is  one  of 
the  common  mistakes,  my  friend,  of  those  who  fail. 
In  the  camp  and  the  court  as  well  as  in  dealings  with 
gentlemen — forgive  the  allusion — of  the  nature  of 
your  esteemed  sire,  it  is  always  well  to  choose  the 
proper  moment  for  action.  We  must  cover  up  our 
dallying  as  well  as  we  can.  To-night  at  eight  o'clock 
I  will  have  a  carriage  outside  your  villa  at  Peterof ; 
can  you  manage  to  come  outside  ?  " 
Vasili  hesitated. 

"  I  am  allowed  out,  but  my  father  has  placed  a 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


219 


number  of  men  round  to  prevent  Sofia  Petrovna 
from  escaping." 

"  They  must  be  tricked/'  said  Gordon. 

"  A  mistake/'  said  Vasili,  "  would  be  serious/' 

"  It  often  is.  But  we  must  risk  it.  Leave  it  to 
me/'  said  Gordon.  '*  I  will  come  somehow  with  a 
plan  and  a  carriage  and  you  must  be  prepared  to 
leave  the  instant  I  arrive." 

"  We  shall  be  ready/'  said  Vasili,  speaking  like 
a  man  of  mind  and  moment. 

Gordon  was  refreshed  and  encouraged  by  Vasili's 
demeanour,  for  he  felt  he  had  now  a  man  to  stand 
beside  him,  one  fit  for  emergencies,  a  companion  in 
arms. 

But  the  prospect  was  none  too  agreeable,  even 
with  a  new-found  comrade  to  aid  one,  for  Stolemkin 
pere  was  thorough  in  his  methods,  a  willing  striker 
and  hard.  Gordon  realized  it  was  not  a  mere  affair 
of  driving  up  and  away  :  but  that  surprises  must  be 
the  lot  of  one  or  the  other. 

So  far  as  his  opportunities  permitted  he  was  pre- 
pared for  much  :  that  was  clear.  Stolemkin  was 
anxious  to  retrieve  his  position  by  capturing  the  real 
Countess  Puroff,  and  then  woe  to  the  farceurs !  He 
hopes"  for  a  divorce  and  a  remarriage."  .  ..  Well, 
there  was  one  obstacle  to  the  divorce  in  Vasili,  and 
there  must  be  more  than  one  to  the  remarriage. 
Gordon  was  stirred.  The  webs  that  were  being  cast 
to  entrap  Melania  Nicholovna  could  not  leave  him 
unmoved. 

A  plan  .  .  .  Sometimes  easier  to  suggest  than  to 
carry  out :  sometimes  easier  to  execute  than  to 
imagine.    It  was  to  take  Sofia  Petrovna,  Vasili  her 


220  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


husband,  Belof  as  well  as  Gordon  himself,  out  of  St. 
Petersburg.  It  was  a  wild  prospect  before  them,  for 
if  Stolemkin  moved  and  the  Crown  moved  there 
would  be  little  chance  of  pleasantness  in  public  places 
for  any  of  the  chief  aiders  and  abettors  of  this  plot. 

T't — Gordon's  tongue  worked.  The  maid  Mar  ie.  .  . 
She  went  with  her  mistress  to  Peterof .  She  must  be 
taken  away  too.  The  maid — one  more  or  less  did  not 
matter  .  .  .  But  Gordon  allowed  his  thoughts  to 
dwell  on  Marie,  not  so  much  as  an  extra  passenger, 
but  as  a  decoy,  a  dodge,  a  device  to  delude  Stolem- 
kin's  watchers  ...  It  might  act ...  It  was  a  pity 
he  had  not  mentioned  it  to  Vasili,  for  then  they 
could  have  arranged  matters.  .  .  . 

It  was  perhaps  a  greater  pity  that  Gordon  did 
not  know  that  Marie  was  not  with  her  mistress  at 
Peterof,  though  luckily  she  had  little  part  to  play 
in  his  plot. 

Gordon  got  his  idea  at  last  and  he  nodded  his 
head  and  um-umed.  He  sought  out  Belof  and  made 
sundry  other  preparations. 

The  evening  arrived. 

Vasili  and  Sofia  were  ready.  He  was  alert  with 
his  eyes  to  the  windows,  his  ears  sensitive  to  every 
sound.  She  was  calm,  unworried,  and  looking  very 
capable. 

Your  maid — it  is  strange,"  Vasili  said. 
"  Yes.    Probably  your  father's  doing." 
"  Probably.    And  she  knew  all  ?  " 
"  Yes,  all." 

"  Even  where  Countess  Puroff  is  ?  " 
"  Yes.    Yet  your  father  did  not  speak  as  if  he 
had  got  any  information  from  her." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Perhaps  she  had  not  told." 

Sofia  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  She  was  no  good — a  squealing  thing.  It  would 
have  been  better  to  leave  her  behind,  only  I  had  to 
have  somebody,  and  she  knew  all.  Yet,  for  her 
mistress's  sake  she  will  be  silent  if  she  can." 

She  spoke  the  last  three  words  ominously. 

Vasili  repeated  them  : If  she  can  .  .  .  poor  girl !  " 
She  blubbered  in  the  forest,"  said  Sofia.  If 
they  take  her  by  the  arm  she  will  tell." 

The  sooner  we  are  out  of  here  the  better,"  said 
Vasili. 

Sofia  did  not  speak  :  she  did  not  find  it  necessary 
to  repeat  the  obvious.  Certain  economies  made  her 
strong,  as  they  do  with  most  people.  It  is  always 
distressing  to  see  people  pass  over  from  frugality 
to  meanness  in  any  direction.  Inane  gabblers  like 
prodigal  spendthrifts  have  their  counterparts  in 
taciturn  curmudgeons  and  the  loathsome  miser. 

As  the  minutes  passed  and  eight  o'clock  drew  near, 
Vasili  and  Sofia,  while  maintaining  an  air  of  serenity 
to  reassure  possible  spies  in  the  house,  betrayed  an 
anxiety  to  each  other.  Vasili  was  at  times  almost 
uncontrollable.  At  the  sound  of  anything  unusual 
he  showed  an  eagerness  latently  violent.  To  pass 
it  off  the  next  moment  he  became  altogether  too 
boisterously  jolly.  He  could  not  keep  up  this  role 
for  long  and  broke  off  suddenly  to  listen  and  peep 
in  undignified  angles  and  at  unexpected  corners. 

Sofia  beckoned  him  with  a  little  toss  of  her 
head. 

"  Your  pistols  ?  " 

"  I  have  them,"  he  said. 


222  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Merely  in  case  they  are  wanted/'  she  said. 
"  Be  careful.    Give  me  one." 

He  let  her  choose. 
And  your  sword/'  she  said.      That  might  be 
more  convenient." 

He  drew  it  with  an  eye  of  joy.  At  last,  he  con- 
sidered he  had  something  in  the  world  he  could 
jfight  for.  A  glorious  day,  if  the  fight  is  for  nothing 
mean  or  sordid. 

They  waited  together,  not  speaking. 

A  woman  came  in  to  ask  what  time  they  would 
take  supper.  Sofia  said  at  nine,  and  asked  to  have 
a  salad  of  mushrooms  and  onions,  a  dish  she  was 
fond  of.  This  sent  Vasili  in  great  joy,  which  he  was 
perforce  bound  to  control.  Sofia's  supper  dish  of 
mushrooms  and  onions  tickled  him  immoderately : 
he  thought  the  jest  excellent. 

Sh  !  "  It  was  Vasili  who  spoke,  and  he  leapt  to 
his  feet  and  ran  to  the  window. 

Sofia  beckoned  him  back. 

"  Wait,"  she  said.  "  Get  out  the  cards."  He 
obeyed  her  without  question. 

When  the  man  came  to  announce  visitors,  Vasili 
and  Sofia  were  apparently  much  interested  in  a  game 
of  cards. 

A  tall  cavalier  with  a  moustache  and  beard  and  a 
rather  short  priest,  also  bearded,  were  shown  in. 
The  bigger  man  spoke  and  said  that  he  and  Father 
Nusoff  had  been  emboldened  to  call  on  their  illustrious 
hosts,  because  having  heard  the  son  of  Count 
Stolemkin  and  his  beautiful  bride  were  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, and  knowing  how  sympathetic  to  good 
works  they  would  naturally  be  and  well  disposed  to- 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


223 


wards  the  labours  of  those  who  "  Do  you  think 

you  could  quietly  go  to  that  door  and  see  if  nobody  is 
behind  it  ?  the  big  man  asked  of  Vasili  in  a  whis- 
per too  low  for  human  ears  outside  the  room  to  catch. 

Vasili,  stirred  to  expectation's  height,  turned  with 
a  beaming  face  on  Sofia,  who  pressed  his  hand  to 
stay  his  exuberance. 

"  Go  quickly,"  she  said. 

"  We  have  formed  a  home  for  the  lost,''  continued 
the  big  man  in  a  big  voice  again,  "  that  is.  Father 
Nusoff  and  I,  and  we  sincerely  trust  that  we  may  be 
able  " 

As  Gordon's  voice  rolled  out  its  periods,  Vasili 
opened  the  door  and  saw  they  were  unwatched,  at 
least,  from  that  quarter. 

"  All  right,"  he  said,  as  he  closed  the  door. 

"  Then  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost,"  said  Gordon, 
and  after  showing  the  priest  into  an  anteroom  he 
took  a  false  beard  and  moustache  from  his  pocket 
and  tried  them  on  Sofia.  Vasili  smiled,  Sofia  merely 
said  :  "  Will  they  do  ?  " 

"  Excellently,"  said  Gordon.  "  I  have  an  extra 
cloak  with  me  and  you  will  disguise  yourself  as  a 
priest  and  go  out  with  me.  If  we  get  away  then 
Father  Nusoff  will  go  out  by  another  door,  and  he 
has  agreed  on  the  price  for  his  chance.  Your  hus- 
band may  follow  after  we  have  been  gone  five 
minutes." 

There  was  a  slight  pause. 

"  It  will  do,"  said  Sofia. 

"  It  is  the  best  I  could  do  in  the  time  and  under 
the  circumstances,  and  there  is  every  chance  of  suc- 
1    cess,"  said  Gordon. 


224  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


They  will  never  suspect,"  said  Vasili.  "  And 
I  will  follow  in  five  minutes  ?  " 

Yes.  Let  us  get  safe  through  and  then  come 
after  us.    We  will  wait  for  you  at  the  quay.  But 

don't  delay,  Sofia  Petrovna  " 

"  I  will  be  ready  in  a  moment,"  said  Sofia  quietly, 
and  she  went  in  an  adjoining  room  to  change. 

Vasili,  now  the  desperate  moment  had  come, 
looked  elated  and  anxious. 

"  You  think  we  shall  escape  ?  " 

It  was  easy  enough  to  get  in." 
"  Yet  my  father  is  strong." 
"  Men  are  only  strong  till  a  stronger  comes." 
"  If  we  can  escape.    It  is  she  I  am  thinking  of, 
Louis  Alexandrovitch." 

I  know  it.  I  know  what  it  is  to  think  of — 
somebody." 

"  Ah  !    You  too  " 

Sofia  returned  at  that  moment,  and  Vasili,  taken 
unawares,  did  not  know  her.  She  was  a  priest  to 
*beard  and  boots. 

"  Capital,"  said  Gordon,  and  then  Vasili  threw  up 
his  arms. 

She  caught  his  hand. 

"  In  five  minutes,"  she  said,  and  Gordon  was 
amazed  at  the  ring  in  her  voice.  A  lioness  fearing 
to  be  robbed  of  a  cub  could  not  have  put  more  passion 
in  the  tone. 

"  In  five  minutes,  my  Sofia,"  said  Vasili. 

She  was  still  holding  his  hand  fiercely. 

"  I  shall  not  go  without  you,"  she  said. 

"  I  will  come,"  he  said  with  the  voice  of  the  happy 
lover,  "  though  I  must  jump  the  Neva." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  225 


She  looked  contented  and  was  so  sure  that  she 
felt  no  need  for  demonstration. 

"  While  we  go  it  would  be  as  well  if  Marie,  the 
maid,  remained  in  this  room,"  said  Gordon,  "  so 
that  her  shadow  might  be  outlined  against  the 
window." 

"  Marie  has  gone,"  said  Sofia. 

"  Gone  ?    Where  ?  " 

"  We  do  not  know,"  said  Vasili.    "  She  went 
away  yesterday  and  has  not  returned." 
Gordon  whistled. 

"  Gone  ?  .  .  .  "  He  whistled  again  and  added  : 
"  Then  the  sooner  we  go  the  better." 

The  big  man  and  the  pseudo  priest  went  out  to- 
gether. Sofia  had  no  mincing  drawing-room  walk, 
so  the  role  came  easy  to  her.  At  the  gate  Stolem- 
kin's  men  advanced  and  peered.  They  crossed 
themselves. 

"  Peace  be  to  you,  my  Father,"  said  the  leader. 

Sofia  nodded  and  made  a  sign.  It  was  an  anxious 
moment,  and  Gordon  hung  back  for  an  instant  in 
case  of  a  suspicious  arrest.  But  none  came.  The 
next  minute — it  was  barely  more — a  carriage  dashed 
up. 

"  Ours  ?  "  whispered  Sofia. 

Gordon  had  not  time  to  speak :  he  just  grabbed 
Sofia  by  the  arm  and  with  bent  head  and  big  increas- 
ing stride  pushed  her  at  a  sharp  angle  across  the 
road,  whilst  he  immediately  assumed  a  walk,  odd 
and  unrecognizable. 

Stolemkin,"  he  murmured  when  they  had  gone 
a  few  yards. 

What  an  escape  !  " 


226  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Yes,  make  haste.  We  must  run/' 
The  gathering  darkness  made  that  possible.  The 
big  man,  alert  as  usual,  with  his  abundant  energy, 
had  evidently  determined  to  lose  no  chances,  and 
had  either  come  to  secure  his  guard  or  attempt  once 
more  to  break  Sofia's  silence. 
What  an  escape ! 

Sofia  did  not  speak.  She  had  the  right  instincts 
in  crises  of  this  order.  Her  life  in  the  woods  had 
begotten  in  her  a  spirit  of  calm  in  danger  and  speed 
of  decision.  She  also  had  the  invaluable  quality  of 
obedience  when  that  was  better  than  commanding 
— most  people  must  either  be  altogether  one  or  the 
other  and  inevitably  suffer  in  consequence. 

Gordon  guided  her  towards  the  quay.  The  streets 
were  wretched  and  respectable  folk  were  careful  of 
travelling  abroad  when  dusk  had  fallen,  for  drunken 
men  abounded  in  these  drinking  days  and  killing 
ceased  to  be  a  crime,  for  it  was  so  often  merely  an 
accident  or  a  blunder. 

Fortunately  Gordon  had  tact  and  a  stout  arm. 
The  carriage,"  he  said  joyfully. 

She  seemed  unmoved — but  that  was  merely  her 
custom.  Belof  was  there,  a  mountain  of  anticipa- 
tion and  delight :  the  postboys  were  astride  the 
horses. 

"  Tricked  him  !  "  said  Gordon,  but  before  he  could 
utter  another  word  Sofia  said,  "  Vasili,  my  hus- 
band ?  " 

It  was  a  pride  as  glorious  as  Vasili's. 

"  He  will  be  safe — they  will  not  hurt  him.  We 
had  better  go/'  Gordon  said.  This,  of  course,  had 
been  the  original  plan  and  Gordon  believed  that 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


227 


Vasili,  at  least,  would  be  immune  from  Count  Sto- 
lemkin's  wrath. 

But  Sofia  stood  like  a  post. 

"  I  will  not  go  without  him,"  she  said. 

"  You  must,"  said  Gordon. 

Sofia  did  not  answer — or  move. 

Gordon  read  her  then.  He  knew  argument  was 
useless  even  though  he  tried  it.  Hope  can  overcome 
experience  and  knowledge  as  a  sunbeam  crosses  a 
mountain.  Then  he  marvelled.  It  was  the  oddest 
and  most  unexpected  of  climaxes — Vasili,  Count 
Stolemkin's  son,  and  Sofia,  daughter  of  Peter  Glebof, 
Stolemkin's  murdered  steward,  were  in  love  with  one 
another  and  prepared  even  to  do  what  lovers  often 
assert  (and  don  t  mean) — to  die  for  each  other. 

"  Then  we  must  save  him,"  said  Gordon. 

Sofia  drew  her  pistol. 

"  Be  careful,"  said  Gordon.  "  We  don't  want 
Stolemkin's  pack  in  this  direction." 

Sofia  simply  looked  the  way  she  had  ccwne  and 
listened. 

They  are  coming,"  she  said,  her  quick  ears 
catching  the  sound. 

Go,"  said  Gordon.  "  In  any  case,  hide.  I  will 
find  your  husband." 

She  did  not  move.  Maybe  her  life  had  trained 
her  to  keep  to  the  trail,  and  now  that  passion 
possessed  her  she  recked  of  nothing  but  her  desire. 

Gordon  pleaded  and  became  almost  angry  :  it 
seemed  to  him  a  wanton  flinging  away  erf  oppor- 
tunity fraught  with  disaster  to  them  all. 

"  They  are  coming,"  he  said. 

That  was  evident.    Voices  and  the  sound  of 


228  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


running  feet  heralded  the  approach  of  Stolemkin's 
men. 

Gordon  bade  the  postboys  be  ready  and  he  per- 
suaded Sofia  to  enter  the  carriage  for  convenience' 
sake,  and  that  was  her  only  concession.  Belof  was 
behind. 

The  dusty  grey  of  the  evening  mingled  with  the 
mist  of  the  Neva  blurred  all  outlines  that  n  ght,  but 
a  figure  shouting  Sofia — fly/'  came  well  into  view. 
It  was  Vasili,  and  he  had  caught  sight  of  the  waiting 
carriage  and  guessed  it  was  Sofia. 

He  shouted  again,  "  Fly — fly — don't  wait  for  me." 

A  thunderous  voice  behind  bellowed  and  a  great 
whip  cracked. 

Gordon  said  :  "  Go — Vasili  will  be  safe." 

Sofia's  eyes  were  staring  wildly  towards  Vasili 
and  her  arms  were  open  to  catch  him. 

A  shot  rang  out.    Sofia  shuddered. 

"  By  God  !  they  are  here.  We  shall  be  taken," 
said  Gordon.  "  Drive  on,"  he  shouted  to  the  post- 
boys, hoping  to  decide  for  Sofia. 

But  she  leapt  from  the  carriage  and  called — 

"  Vasili." 

"  Sofia,"  came  the  answer.  Fly." 

He  had  not  time  for  more.  There  was  a  curse  of 
thunder  behind,  a  great  whip  cracked,  and  Vasili's 
legs  were  dragged  from  beneath  him.  Sofia  gave  a 
cry  savage  and  wild.  She  fired  her  pistol  and  dashed 
towards  her  husband. 

"  Lost,"  said  Gordon,  but  he  drew  his  sword  and 
leapt  to  her  side. 

Stolemkin  came  on  like  a  tornado.  His  men  flung 
and  used  cudgels  with  effect.    Gordon  even  in  a 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


229 


moment  did  wonders,  but  a  blow  on  the  head  stopped 
him.  Sofia,  after  smashing  a  man's  face  with  the 
butt  of  the  pistol,  was  grabbed  and  held  firmly.  The 
sonorous  glee  of  Stolemkin  gurgled  like  the  running  of 
beer. 

When  Gordon  woke  in  the  dawn,  Belof  was  nurs- 
ing him  and  Vasili  (whose  head  had  been  split  in  the 
fall),  and  Sofia  Petrovna  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 

Louis  collected  his  thoughts,  passed  his  hand  over 
his  forehead  which  was  dirty  and  bloody. 

"  Woman,"  he  said  and  looked  as  if  he  would  fain 
be  eloquent. 

Belof,  with  an  anxious  face,  said — 

"  What  is  it,  Louis  Alexandrovitch  ?  *' 

Gordon  shook  his  head. 

"  I  have  said,''  he  replied,  all  there  is  to  be 
said,"  and  he  lay  down  and  dreamt. 


CHAPTER  XIX 


Oh  !  the  tender  ties. 
Close  twisted  with  the  fibres  of  the  heart  !  " 

^ — Youngs 

COUNT  BULAVIN,  having  knowledge  of  some 
things  and  being  ignorant  of  others,  was 
wearing  a  smile  of  hope  and  cogitating  phrases  with 
barbs.  A  little  knowledge  and  how  happy  we  are  ! 
a  little  ignorance  and  how  serene  we  keep  !  Since 
at  any  moment  our  ignorance  may  become  knowledge 
it  behoves  us  to  be  calm. 

Count  Bulavin,  for  example,  knew  much  that 
interested  him  from  the  mouth  of  Marie,  Countess 
Puroff's  maid.  But  he  also  ignored  the  fact  that 
Sofia  was  Count  Stolemkin's  prisoner.  Hence  his 
rejoicings. 

Marie  had  confessed,  as  Sofia  guessed  she 
would.  Lured,  she  wept.  Flattered,  she  hesitated. 
Threatened,  she  told.  She  was  wofuUy  afraid  of 
her  skin  and  gabbled  freely.  When  she  tried  a 
little  hesitation.  Count  Bulavin  replied  with  sugges- 
tions of  torture,  and  the  implements  looked  horrible 
as  the  threats  were  ghastly.  Besides  Marie  knew 
she  had  been  a  party  to  the  conspiracy  and,  that 
fact  elicited,  the  lever  was  powerful.    She  told  all 

280 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


231 


she  knew  with  sobs  and  entreaties  of  course,  and 
was  a  mere  bag  of  tears  at  the  end. 

But  Bulavin  was  happy.  He  held  the  secret.  He 
rapped  the  fingers  of  his  right  hand  on  the  knuckles 
of  his  left  and  drank  brandy. 

Poor  Stolemkin  !  (Language  was  free  and  im- 
moderate). Vasili's  wife  the  sister  of  a  robber  and 
no  Countess  at  all.  Ha  !  Ha  !  Ha  !  And  Stolem- 
kin's  boast  that  rang  from  Moscow  to  St.  Petersburg. 
Estates  in  Livonia,  Revel,  Ukraine  and  Moscow. 
Jewels  to  dazzle  a  court,  enough  wood  to  build  a  St. 
Petersburg  and  more  than  enough  fish  to  stink  it 
out.  Ha  !  Ha  !  Ha  !  By  all  the  Saints  !  but  life 
seemed  very  pleasant — except  for  poor  Stolemkin  ! 
Did  he  know  ?  And  he  had  prized  his  daughter- 
in-law  so  highly  !  Such  a  fine  woman  !  The  figure 
of  a  Venus  etcetera  etcetera.    Ha  !  Ha  !  Ha  ! 

More  brandy. 

Bulavin  was  a  seasoned  drinker  as  well  as  an 
accomplished  rogue.  He  considered  the  situation. 
The  humiliation  of  his  old  friend  Stolemkin  was 
not  only  a  matter  of  delight  but  of  imminence. 
St.  Petersburg  had  listened  to  the  boasts,  it  should 
now  get  recreation  from  the  ridicule.  Boasting  is 
only  a  firework  with  the  tail  of  an  illuminated 

guy- 
But  all  that  was  merely  the  joy  of  life,  not  its  gain. 
Bulavin  kept  an  ear  to  the  music,  and  an  eye  on 
the  pay  boy — a  remarkable  feat  you  will  allow, 
and  worth  the  noting.    He  cogitated. 

His  real  object  was  to  get  possession  of  Countess 
Puroff  and  marry  her  (with  her  estates,  her  jewels, 
her  wood,  her  fish,  her  serfs)  to  his  son.    Since  the 


232  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


great  Stolemkin  had  missed  the  prize  and  the 
Countess  was  in  hiding  in  the  hands  of  one  Glebof, 
a  brigand,  it  remained — as  a  problem — to  get  the 
Countess  out  of  the  hands  of  the  said  brigand  and 
bring  her  to  St.  Petersburg. 

There  was  no  time  to  be  lost.  When  Stolemkin 
learned  the  news  he  would  be  disinclined  to  sit  still 
and  curse.    Even  Frolof  was  not  without  ideas. 

Time,  that  respects  no  man  for  his  principles  but 
serves  most  eagerly  those  who  use  him  best,  was 
a  necessity.  Bulavin  realized  that  a  message  must 
go  to  Glebof  at  once.  Brigands  wanted  money  like 
Chancellors  and  took  it — ^like  Chancellors  (old  style) 
wherever  and  whenever  they  could.  The  suggestion 
was :  how  much  would  Glebof  take  to  give  up 
Countess  Puroff  ? 

A  simple  proposition.  Bulavin  thought  it  over 
and  it  appeared  to  him  to  be  a  much  better  way  than 
to  try  to  shoot  Glebof  through  the  head  and  rescue 
Countess  Puroff  by  force  of  arms,  because  it  pro- 
vided less  risk  and  more  hope.  So  the  trusted 
emissaries  of  Count  Bulavin  rode  forth,  well  primed, 
leaving  the  Count  himself  to  shoot  hints  and  in- 
nuendoes at  the  lady  in  Peterof  who  was  supposed 
to  own  estates  in  Livonia,  Revel,  Ukraine.  Ha  ! 
Ha  !    Ha  ! 

So  we  have  now  Stolemkin  guarding  Sofia  and 
Bulavin  holding  Marie  and  the  secret. 

Stolemkin  when  he  returned  to  the  villa  at  Peterof 
with  Sofia — ^whom  he  called  a  "  damnable  cat  "  and 
sundry  other  names  due  to  the  excitement  of  the 
moment — raved  without  hindrance.  He  stormed, 
threatened  and  ciursed.    Sofia  was  pale  and  anxious, 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  233 


yet  relieved.  Vasili  was  free  with  Gordon  and, 
somehow,  she  felt  they  were  not  seriously  hurt. 

"  In  the  morning,  my  she-wolf,"  said  Stolemkin. 
I  will  see  you  try  no  more  tricks.  You  are  beginning 
to  fear  the  wheel  and  the  lash,  are  you  ?  You 
think  you  will  escape  me — pouf  !  "  He  snapped 
his  fingers  very  near  to  her  nose.  He  walked  the 
room  like  a  giant,  and  Sofia  sat  still  wondering  what 
was  going  to  be  the  next  event  in  her  life,  and  feeling 
very,  very  thankful  that  Vasili  was  out  of  the  house. 

"  I  will  make  you  pay.  What  a  fool !  What  a 
damned  fool,  you  are  !  Do  you  think  you  will 
humiliate  me,  you  mud  of  the  forest  ?  Your  life 
is  your  only  chance,  do  you  hear  ?  By  Heaven  ! 
But  you  shall  squeal.  Vll  grind  you  to  powder  or  you 
shall  speak.  Tell  or  die — din  that  in  your  ears,  my 
sprite  of  the  woods !  Tell  where  the  Countess 
Puroff  is  or  your  bones  will  be  ground  to  powder, 
you  she-thief !  " 

"  Oh  !  Go  home,"  said  Sofia  quietly,  but  very 
disturbingly. 

"  You — ^well,  you  are  the  devil's  own  child  !  " 

He  was  astonished  to  silence.  He  had  never 
met  a  woman  like  Sofia  before,  and  was  amazed  at 
her  strength.  But  a  man  with  a  neck  like  his  was 
bound  to  try  to  force  the  woman  if  he  could.  He 
stayed  that  night  on  the  premises  to  make  assurance 

certain  and  took  care  that  his  men  kept  an 

adequate  guard. 

In  the  morning  he  tackled  the  situation  like  a  man 
of  blood  and  no  scruples.  He  would  have  killed 
:  the  daughter  as  he  had  had  the  father  killed  if  his 
I  purpose  would  have  been  served  by  such  a  course. 

i 


234 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Sofia  said  nothing.  She  could  suffer  to  annihila- 
tion, and  threats  and  torture  would  not  prevail 
against  her  to  the  extent  of  making  her  speak  if  she 
would  not.  It  was  a  nasty  business  to  begin  with, 
for  she  was  sturdy  and  desperate,  and  fought  like  a 
tigress — but  what  was  she  amongst  a  pack  of 
men  ? 

When  she  had  fainted  once  and  was  on  the  point 
of  doing  it  again  Stolemkin  saw  the  hopelessness 
of  his  method.  For  revenge  this  might  serve,  but 
not  for  use,  and  it  was  not  Stolemkin's  province 
to  slack  his  desire  upon  his  enemies  in  the  capital, 
exactly  as  he  would.  Higher  people  than  he  would 
have  a  word  to  say  to  that.  Had  Sofia  spoken, 
Stolemkin  would  have  soothed  the  suffering. 

She  was  white,  but  her  lips  uttered  no  word. 

Stolemkin  was  hardly  in  a  mood  to  be  generous 
or  he  must  have  been  v/on  to  admiration  of  her 
fortitude.  As  it  was  he  cursed  her,  but  refused  to 
attempt  any  more  torture  for  the  moment.  At 
least  that  was  at  an  end. 

But  Stolemkin  was  wild.  He  saw  no  outlook 
save  by  telling  Count  Ostermann  and  hoping  to  get 
the  power  of  the  Court  on  his  side.  But  that  hated 
publicity  seemed  inevitable,  and  yet — well,  Stolem- 
kin felt  he  could  not  arrange  as  he  would,  and  so 
must  manage  as  he  could.  It  is  the  lot  of  most  of 
mankind. 

If  only  he  could  have  managed  without  inter- 
ference he  would  have  won  praise  for  his  ability  in 
retrieving  a  desperate  situation.  If  Ostermann 
refused  to  move — phew !  Stolemkin  was  then 
hoist  with  his  own  publicity  and  made  a  fool  by 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


235 


his  own  boasts.  Most  boasters  are.  No  wonder  he 
raged  at  Sofia  and  hesitated. 

So  Bulavin  acts  and  waits  :  Stolemkin  acts  and 
hesitates  and  Glebof  waits  and  acts. 

Glebof  began  to  get  anxious  as  he  waited  in  vain 
for  the  arrival  of  his  sister.  He  was  a  man  of  action  : 
his  hfe  on  more  than  one  occasion  had  depended 
on  instant  decisions  being  instantly  put  into  practice. 
That  would  mean  the  impossible  to  the  slow  of 
decision,  slow  of  movement  folk  who  still  serve  a 
useful  purpose  on  the  earth,  and  incidentally  annoy 
the  mercurial. 

Glebof  decided  to  go  to  St.  Petersburg  himself. 
It  was  a  dangerous  errand  for  him.  It  is  audacious 
to  try  to  make  corpses  of  people  one  day  and  friends 
the  next.  There  is  certainly  charity  in  the  second 
endeavour,  but  people  as  a  rule  won't  look  at  it  in 
that  light.  And  Glebof  had  lightened  the  journey 
to  many  a  dweller  in  St.  Petersburg,  who  could  not 
sufficiently  approach  the  ideal  to  forgive  the  bandit. 
Forgiveness,  one  frequently  observes,  we  call  weak- 
ness in  ourselves  and  a  virtue  in  others. 

But  Glebof,  making  careful  arrangements  for  the 
safe  custody  of  Countess  Puroff,  was  not  afraid  of 
dangers. 

When  he  told  her  he  was  going  to  leave  her  for  a 
few  days,  she  begged  to  be  taken  with  him,  saying 
she  did  not  know  those  who  were  left  and  was 
afraid.    Glebof,  seemingly,  could  inspire  trust. 

"  You  need  have  no  fear,"  he  said.  The  man 
I  shall  leave  in  charge  is  to  be  trusted,  and  I  shall 
soon  return." 

He  had  no  sooner  spoken  the  word  than  there 


236  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


came  to  him  the  idea  :  suppose  I  do  not  return  ? 
Yet  he  scarcely  gave  a  second  thought  to  Melania 
Nicholovna.  She  apparently  was  not  his  dearest 
thought,  for  her  lot,  imder  Glebof's  successor,  ran 
risks  of  vicissitudes. 

She,  however,  did  not  doubt  Glebof  and  faith, 
as  it  must  do,  brought  its  own  comfort. 

"  Why  do  you  go  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Because  it  is  necessary." 

"  Your  sister  is  well  ?  " 

"  I  hope  so.    I  go  to  see." 

"  Oh  !  I  thought  all  was  going  well.  Suppose 
they  find  out  ?  " 

They  were  meant  to  find  out." 

"  But  not  till  your  sister  had  got  away." 

"  No.  I  think  it  is  time  Sofia  came  back — that 
is  why  I  go." 

"  There  is  danger,  I  see.  I  hope  all  will  be  well. 
I  will  pray  for  you.  And  Louis  Alexandrovitch." 
she  spoke  tenderly,  "  have  you  no  news  of  him  ?  " 

"  He  should  have  come  with  my  sister." 

She  looked  afraid. 

*'  There  has  been  no  accident  ?  " 

"  Accidents  are  always  happening,  otherwise 
we  should  starve.  I  anticipate  nothing  serious, 
but  as  the  business  is  delicate  I  prefer  now  to  go 
myself  rather  than  send  another.  So  be  at  rest : 
nobody  will  disturb  or  molest  you  and  I  shall  soon 
be  back  with  my  sister,  and  Gordon." 

He  said  the  last  two  words  somewhat  grimly, 
but  with  a  sense  of  their  appreciation.  Melania 
Nicholovna  looked  grateful,  and  then  as  the  name 
Gordon  sank  gently  into  her  consciousness  and 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  237 


she  realized  why  Glebof  had  mention^  d  it  she  went 
a  radiant  red  and  turned  on  her  heel  hugging  a  joy. 
Blessed  name  !    Words  have  their  sweetnesses. 

After  Glebof's  departure  she  became  more  and 
more  expectant.  Nothing  crossed  the  horizon  now, 
but  she  watched  it  with  hope  :  the  lark  heading  for 
the  empyrean  told  her  there  were  good  things  in  the 
world  and  bade  her  be  of  good  cheer.  She  was  very 
happy  when  she  was  allowed  to  wander  to  the  edge 
of  the  wood  and  look  towards  the  capital,  for  where 
our  heart  is,  to  there  will  our  eyes  be  turned. 

Glebof,  in  the  guise  of  a  prosperous  trader  of 
Nijni  Novgorod,  went  with  circumspection  but 
speed.  Moscow  was  announced  to  them  six  miles 
away  by  some  tall  spires  that  crowned  an  eminence 
which  could  be  seen  from  the  forest  road.  The  great 
crescent-shaped  city  soon  appeared  before  the 
bandit  and  Lis  companions  in  all  its  splendour 
(very  tempting  !)  Churches,  towers,  gilded  spires 
and  domes,  buildings  in  white,  red  and  green  all 
glittered  richly  in  the  sun.  The  forest  reached 
to  within  a  mile  of  the  ramparts  of  the  town  and 
Glebof  and  his  party  crossed  the  "  living-bridge  " 
over  the  Moscowa  and  entered  the  great  city. 
Glebof  was  handsomely  supplied  with  passports  as 
with  other  articles,  and  the  entrance  was  effected 
without  difficulty. 

They  went  to  an  inn,  kept  by  a  Swede,  and  noticed 
there  were  many  travellers  about.  Some,  a  party 
of  six,  were  journeying  in  the  opposite  direction. 
They  seemed  anxious  not  to  waste  too  much  time 
but  were  not  afraid  of  talking, 

"  Going  to  St.  Petersburg  ?    said  one,  after  he  had 


238  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


hoped  that  peace  would  be  with  the  stalwart  bandit 
whom  he  addressed. 
Yes." 

"  I  come  from  there  to  go — well  we  have  heard 
there  are  plenty  of  robbers  on  the  road,  so  our 
destination  may  change. 

Robbers  ?  "    As  if  he  was  surprised. 
Have  you  not  met  any  ?  " 
Glebof 's  follower  shook  his  head. 
"  We  have  not  met  one — to  our  knowledge." 
"  That  is  hopeful :  but  we  are  going  in  the  opposite 
direction." 

"  Then  you  have  a  chance." 
"  You  reaUy  think  so  ?  " 

I  said  a  chance." 
"  We  have  heard  of  one  Glebof.    I  think  his  name 
is." 

"  Good  or  ill  ?  " 

"  He  is  a  formidable  man  and  pretends  to  hold 
his  own  against  an  army — you  do  not  know  where 
his  headquarters  are  ?  " 

"  You  would  beard  the  lion  in  his  lair  ?  " 

"  If  we  know  where  it  is  we  may  avoid  it.  Have 
you  not  heard  of  him  ?  " 

Glebof — the  name  is  familiar — but  we  are 
peaceable  people  and  our  affair  is  merchandise." 

"  His  too  at  times,  I  fancy." 

The  bandit  laughed  good-humouredly. 

"  Yes.  I  believe  I  have  heard  of  him.  Do  they 
speak  of  him,  then,  in  St.  Petersburg  ?  " 

"  Those  who  suffer  must  tell  their  tales." 

"  They  are  probably  the  lucky  ones." 

"  Phew  !    Is  he  so  bad  as  that  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  239 


"He  is  very  expeditious  they  say.  I  am  told 
nobody  lingers." 

"  Phew.    Is  he  approachable  ?  " 

"  I  understand  it  is  his  object  in  hfe." 

"  But  I  suppose  he  spares  if  he  gets  money  ?  " 

"  He  has  never  been  known  to  destroy  needlessly." 

"  Ah  !    So  you  know  him  ?  " 

"  I  have  heard,  now  you  remind  me,  many 
stories  of  him." 

"  And  his  haunt — can  you  not  tell  me  that  ?  " 

"  Through  the  forest  and  then — who  can  speak  ? 
He  may  be  here  to-day  and  there  to-morrow." 

"  True.  I  suppose  you  have  never  heard  of  his 
lair  ?  " 

"  He  attacks  on  the  hills,  in  the  forests,  by  the 
river,  who  can  say  where  he  abides  ?  "    "  Um  !  " 

And  then  Bulavin's  man  ceased  his  pursuit  of 
knowledge.  It  happens  so  often  :  we  are  on  the 
point  of  making  the  discovery  we  want,  and  never 
know  that  just  when  we  gave  up  the  search  a  film 
of  the  thinnest  gossamer  separated  us  from  the 
secret.  A  little  more  and  these  two  men  might 
have  understood  one  another  :  a  little  more  and  it  is 
just  possible — though  not  altogether  probable — 
that  the  events  of  this  story  might  have  run  a  little 
differently. 

Glebof's  man  had  been  a  captain  who  gambled 
away  his  patrimony  and  was  forced  to  leave  the 
army  because  he  could  not  pay  his  debts  of  honour 
— and  dishonour.  He  preferred  enrolment  under 
Glebof  to  decay  in  Siberia.  He  was  of  good  bearing 
and  education  but  that  won't  confer  perception. 
He  took  his  interlocutor's  questions  for  what  they 


240  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


were  and  did  not  delve  for  the  motive.  Another  man 
would  have  wondered  what  the  questions  meant — 
but  the  world  rolls  on  by  the  aid  of  the  dull  and  the 
bright,  the  blind  and  the  farseeing,  and  chances 
are  seized  and  chances  missed  such  as  would  cause 
an  excitement  to  onlookers  far  excelling  all  that  man 
can  invent. 

It  happened  that  Bulavin's  men  went  on  towards 
the  Valdai  Hills  to  meet  Glebof,  and  Glebof  went  on 
to  St.  Petersburg  to  discover  the  whereabouts  of 
Sofia. 

Bulavin's  men  went  fast,  and  we  may  as  well  tell 
now  what  happened  to  them.  They  met  one  of 
Glebof's  band,  who  was  disguised  as  a  peasant, 
on  the  outskirts  of  the  forest,  and  boldly  asked  for 
Glebof.  Suspicious  at  first,  the  man  ultimately  took 
the  leader  to  his  chief,  and  then  it  was  agreed  to 
dispatch  a  messenger  at  once  to  Glebof  with  the 
question  :  "  What  was  his  price  to  give  up  Countess 
Puroff  to  Count  Bulavin  ?  " 

Bulavin's  man  asked  if  they  should  stay  till 
the  answer  came,  and  as  the  bandit  had  no  intention 
of  betraying  the  whereabouts  of  his  master  he  said 
"  they  might  stay,  or  go  to  St.  Petersburg  or,  if 
they  preferred,  go  to  the  devil." 

Bulavin's  man  bowed  and  disclaimed  any  pre- 
ference. But  he  showed  one  by  refusing  to  remain 
where  he  was. 

Glebof  went  warily,  but  without  loss  of  time,  to 
St.  Petersburg.  He  had  passed  his  men  on  the 
road  and  soon  discovered  the  place  where  the  chain 
had  snapped.  Not  only  had  one  man  been  killed 
but  another  had  disappeared  with  money  to  pay 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


241 


for  things  and  vital  instructions.  If  you  must 
trust  to  robbers  you  can  safely  reckon  on  being 
robbed. 

Into  the  new  dread  city  Glebof  came.  If  he 
were  known  to  be  here  he  would  have  a  desperate 
fight  for  his  life.  But  amid  the  movement  of  the 
capital  he  was  unnoticed.  He  went  to  an  inn  near  the 
"  English  line,"  so  called  because  the  row  of  houses 
was  principally  occupied  by  English  merchants. 
It  was  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  and  was  opposite 
that  part  of  the  quay  where  he  imagined  Gordon 
had  his  rooms. 

Once  installed  he  moved  quickly.  He  let  it  be 
understood  that  he  had  come  to  buy  cotton  and 
woollen  goods  from  the  English  merchants.  His  men 
were  sent  out  to  discover  Stolemkin's  house,  Gordon's 
dwelling  and  all  news  possible  respecting  the 
wedding  of  Sofia. 

The  news  was  quickly  garnered.  The  wedding 
was  a  popular  topic  and  readily  discussed.  Glebof 
discovered  Ostermann's  villa  at  Peterof  and  looked 
for  Sofia.  But  the  villa  was  deserted  — there  was  no 
sign  of  Sofia. 

The  watch  on  Stolemkin  did  not  produce  fruit 
worth  the  chewing.  Certainly  the  Count  went  to  the 
palace  and  looked  anxious,  but  Glebof  began  to  cry 
"  Where  is  Sofia  ?  " 

The  search  for  Gordon  too  was  barren  of  result, 
for  Gordon  and  Vasili  were  in  hiding,  plotting  to 
rescue  Sofia  and  failing  to  find  her. 

Everybody  seemed  to  hold  what  somebody  else 
desired.  So  much  scheming  was  bound  to  have  a 
serious  outlet.    Sides  don't  ache  with  smiling. 

Q 


242  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Then  Gordon  saw  Glebof 's  man  again  and  learnt  of 
the  presence  of  the  bandit  in  St.  Petersburg. 

"  Sofia  ? "  said  Glebof  as  he  shook  hands  and  made 
no  other  greeting. 

"  You  here — it  is  a  long  story." 

"  Is  she  safe  ?  " 

They  were  together  in  a  room  occupied  by  one 
of  the  other  men. 
"  I— I  hope  so." 

"  Hope  so."  Glebof  repeated  the  word  as  if  it 
were  the  preliminary  to  a  fight.  Gordon  was  a  fine 
opponent. 

"  Sit  down,"  he  said, "  it  is  a  long  story.  You  can't 
play  tricks  on  people  here  before  the  whole  court  and 
then  expect  to  walk  off  like  a  man  who  has  drunk  his 
fill  at  a  feast."  "  I  don't  need  moralizings  or  any- 
thing of  that  kind,  I  want  Sofia." 

"  So  do  I,  Juri  Petrovitch — let  me  tell  you  !" 

He  told  the  story  of  the  wedding,  the  waiting  for 
the  messenger,  the  attempt  to  escape  and  the 
subsequent  disappearance  of  Sofia. 

"  So  the  villain  knows,"  said  Glebof  at  the  end. 
"  and  what  will  he  do  ?  " 

"  You  can't  always  tell  what  a  villain  will  do. 
Vasili  says  his  father  wants  to  find  out  where 
Countess  Puroff  is." 

"  Why  ?    To  get  hold  of  her,  I  suppose." 

"  Yes.  He  would  like  to  make  his  son  divorce 
Sofia." 

"  Well,  he  has  been  fooled." 

"  But  divorce  won't  suit  either  Vasili  Antonovitch 
or  your  sister." 

Glebof  could  not  fail  to  notice  the  distinct  placing 
before  his  observation  of  the  last  two  words. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  My  sister — what  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  One  of  the  most  unexpected  things  on  this  earth 
my  friend,  one  of  those  things  that  let  you  under- 
stand the  saying  about  the  removing  of  mountains 
and  a  man  being  born  again  " 

"  For  Heaven's  sake  get  on." 

"It  is  a  subject  that  should  not  be  introduced 
crudely  and  roughly.  You,  friend  Glebof ,  will  quite 
appreciate  the  pleasant  grove  of  entrance.  You 
may  jump  from  a  rock  into  some  waters,  but  you 
must  approach  this  through  pleasant  alleys  and 
sweet  smelling  flowers  and  birds  singing  " 

"  Eh  !  " 

"  You  guess  ?  " 
"  Sofia—" 

"  Sofia.  Your  sister  Juri  Petrovitch,  and  Stolem- 
kin's  son,  have  managed  so  to  please  each  other  that 
they  would,  I  really  believe,  die  for  each  other. 
They  are  married.  They  are  man  and  wife,  and 
glory  in  it  and  thank  God  for  it." 

Glebof  could  not  speak  for  the  moment,  his 
surprise  was  too  great.  He  looked  at  Gordon 
keenly  as  if  he  must  search  the  truth,  but  he  was 
satisfied. 

"  Sofia — married  and  happy — and  to  Stolemkin's 
son." 

"  Complicated  situation  ?  "  said  Gordon. 

"  What  does  Sofia  want  to  do  ?  "  Glebof  asked  in 
a  quiet  voice. 

"  Nothing  better,  I  fancy,  than  to  escape  with  her 
husband  to  a  wooden  house  in  a  forest  of  pines." 

"  And— he— the  husband  ?  " 

"  Just  what  she  wishes." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


A  pause.    Then  :  "  My  God  !    Stolemkin's  son." 

They  were  interrupted  by  a  messenger  who 
brought  a  letter  from  the  deputy  chief  of  the  robber 
band.  Having  read  the  note  Glebof  told  the 
messenger  to  wait  downstairs.  Then  he  shut  the 
door. 


CHAPTER  XX 


**  Even  the  strong  can  be  forced  to  bargain." 

WHO  is  Count  Bulavin  ?  "  asked  Glebof. 
Bulavin — a  man  of  the  same  kidney 
as  Stolemkin  with  perhaps  a  little  less  knout." 
He  wants  Countess  Puroff." 
"  Does  he  ?    He  is  not  the  only  one." 
Glebof  handed  over  the  letter. 
"  Bulavin  knows  something,"  said  Gordon  when 
he  had  read  the  note. 
How  much  ?  " 
"  Two  things,  at  least,  of  some  importance.  One 
is  that  Stolemkin's  son  has  not  married  Countess 
Puroff,  and  the  second  that  you  know  where  the 
Countess  is. 

"(How  did  he  learn  that  ?  " 
Gordon  shook  his  head. 
Not  from  Sofia  or  Vasili  or  me  or  you  or  Stolem- 
kin himself,  I  fancy." 

"The  maid,"  said  Glebof. 
Gordon  nodded. 

*'  You've  hit  it.    She  was  missing." 

"  She  should  have  been  killed  :  she  was  a  worthless 
thing.    Does  it  matter  ?  " 

"  It  makes  things  more  interesting.  With  Stolem- 
kin only  to  think  of  we  could  bargain.    If  he  would 

246 


246  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


let  Sofia  go  we  would  keep  our  tongues  still  about 
the  affair  :  but  Bulavin  may  gossip.  May — I  very 
much  fear  he  will.  He  will  be  delighted  to  spread  the 
news  of  his  friend's — mesalliance — ^Phew  !  " 

"  Then  why  doesn't  he  do  it  ?  " 

Gordon  paused  and  considered  the  letter.  "  Clearly 
he  wants  the  Countess — of  course,  he  wants  the 
Countess.    Since  Stolemkin  has  not  got  her  Bulavin 

would  hope  to  win  and  so  he  would  pay  you  " 

Gordon  stopped  and  looked  keenly  at  his  companion. 

It  seems/'  said  Glebof,"  that  I  hold  a  person  of 
importance  in  Countess  Puroff." 

"  Yes,"  said  Gordon. 

"  I  sell  high." 

"  But  some  things  you  do  not  sell  at  all." 

I  have  yet  to  learn  them." 
"  The  hand  of  Countess  Puroff  is  one,"  said 
Gordon  with  a  defiant  ring  in  his  voice.  Glebof 
shook  his  head  quietly. 
It  is  not  one,"  he  said. 

You  mean  you  would  hand  her  over  to  Count 
Bulavin  ?  " 

"  If  it  suited  me." 

"  But  it  does  not  suit  me." 

"  I  do  not  propose  to  try  and  suit  you,  sir." 

"  Yet  it  might  be  advisable." 

Glebof  paused. 

"  You  threaten  ?  "  he  said. 

"  I  do  more.    I  fight,"  said  Gordon,  "  if  need  be." 

"  Thinking  yourself  better  situated  in  St.  Peters- 
burg than  in  the  forest,  eh  ?  " 

"  I'll  fight  you  here,  in  Moscow,  in  the  forest  at 
the  gates  of  Hell,  if  need  be,  for  Countess  Puroff." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


247 


"  So  ?  "  But  Glebof  remembered  that  he  was 
in  St.  Petersburg  and  that  Gordon's  help  might 
be  useful. 

"  Why  should  we  quarrel  ?  "  he  said.    "  But  if 
Bulavin  offers  a  price  you  must  cover  it." 
"  What  would  you  ask  ?  " 
Glebof  hesitated. 

"  Sofia's  liberty,"  he  said  with  a  sudden  inspira- 
tion. 

Gordon  stretched  out  his  hand,  but  the  next 
moment  withdrew  it. 

"  But  will  you  offer  the  same  terms  to  Bulavin  ?  " 
"  Why  not  ?  " 

"  And  if  he  frees  your  sister  ?  " 
"  That  is  aU  I  ask." 
"  Do  I  not  count  ?  " 

"  It  is  what  you  will  do  that  counts.  Liberate 
Sofia,  see  that  she  is  free  from  harm  and  I  will  do 
all  that  you  ask  and  more.  But  I  care  neither  for 
you  nor  Countess  Puroff  nor  for  all  St.  Petersburg 
so  long  as  Sofia  is  not  free." 

Glebof  knew  what  he  wanted,  and  was  not  all 
robber. 

Gordon  was  struck  by  the  man's  affection  for  his 
sister  and  saw  the  hopelessness  of  trying  to  move 
him,  for  Countess  Puroff  was  a  prisoner  with  the 
robbers  and  would  not  be  freed  even  by  Glebof's 
death. 

"  I  will  do  what  I  can  to  free  Sofia,"  he  said. 
Glebof  nodded. 

"  She  must  be  freed,"  he  said  very  determinedly. 
"  And  Bulavin  ?  " 

"  If  he  can  help,  so  much  the  better." 


248  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  What  shall  you  answer  ?  " 
Glebof  replied  coldly — 

"  I  shall  let  him  know  that  the  price  for  the  free- 
dom of  Countess  Pur  off  is  the  freedom  of  my  sister." 

When  will  you  send  the  answer  ?  "  asked 
Gordon. 

"  At  once." 

"  Will  you  not  wait  a  little  ?  ' 

"  What  for  ?  " 

"  To  give  me  a  chance." 

"  I  do  not  think  of  you,  but  of  my  sister/'  said 
Glebof  quickly. 

Send  your  answer,"  said  Gordon,  "  and,  by 
God  !  if  he  wins,  Bulavin  shall  fight  me." 

So  Count  Bulavin  got  the  answer  to  his  question, 
and  it  made  him  screw  his  face. 

The  freedom  of  the  robber's  sister  for  Countess 
Puroff !  No  price  at  all.  She  might  be  tricked  out 
of  Stolemkin's  clutches  like  an  egg  from  a  nest,  and 
there  might  be  a  lot  of  husk-breaking  before  the 
kernel  was  got  at. 

Count  Bulavin  screwed  up  his  face  and  scratched 
his  head.  He  felt  near  enough  to  rejoicing  and  had 
the  wisdom  not  to  be  premature. 

This  wife  of  Vasili  Antonovitch — where  was  she  ? 
Stolemkin  was  quiet  too,  what  was  his  game  ? 

Bulavin  sent  for  Johan  Branui. 

"  You  remember  the  wedding  of  Count  Stolem- 
kin's  son  ?  " 

Yes,  Excellency." 

"  I  want  you  to  find  out  where  the  bride  is." 

"  She  was  at  Peterof,  Nicholas  Dimitrivitch." 

"  Find  out  if  she  is  still  there  and,  if  not,  where 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  249 


she  is.  I  want  to  get  hold  of  her  without  exciting 
suspicion  and  without  losing  any  time.  The  mo- 
ment you  have  found  out  any  news  of  importance 
come  and  tell  me." 

That  same  day  Bulavin  met  Stolemkin.  He 
made  it  his  business  to  meet  him. 

*'  Well,  and  how  is  your  dear  daughter-in-law  ?  " 
said  Bulavin. 

"  The  doctor  isn't  wanted  yet." 

"  Ah  !  She  is  still  a  being  of  joy  to  her  father- 
in-law's  heart  ?  " 

"  She  is  as  precious  to  me  as  ever  she  was." 

"  Um !  Estates,  wood,  fish,  jewels,  oh !  my 
friend,  but  you  are  lucky  !  And  where,  may  I  ask, 
is  the  lady  now  ?  " 

"  In  good  time,  Nicholas  Dimitrivitch,  but  give 
her  a  chance  for  solitude  first." 

"  Solitude  ?  " 

"  Why  not  ?  " 

"  Or  why  ?  It  is  the  same  thing.  Has  she  left 
Peterof  ?  " 

"  You  would  not  have  them  stay  th6re  for 
ever  ?  " 

Truly,  no.  So  she  has  returned,  eh,  and  once 
more  you  have  your  dear  Melania  Nicholovna 
beside  you  again." 

"  You  say  it  with  disappointment." 

"  I  do  not  feel  it." 

"  No  ?  " 

"  No.    Have  you  not  heard  the  gossip  ?  " 
"  What  gossip  ?  "    Stolemkin's  small  eyes  were 
disturbed  to  brightness. 

Ah  !  ah  !    It  does  not  do  to  repeat  everything, 


250  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


and  people  axe  so  uncharitable,  eh,  Anton  Gregoro- 
vitch  ?  " 

"  I  can  believe  that." 

"  Yet — and  yet  she  was  attractive,  most  attract- 
ive, almost  remarkably  so." 

"  She  seems  to  have  made  an  impression." 
Enormous.    St.  Petersburg,  so  it  is  said,  will 
not  forget  it  in  our  life  time." 

"  So  great  as  that  ?  " 

"  Think  not  only  of  the  estates  and  the  timber  and 
the  jewels  and  the  fish,  but  of  the  lady  herself — quite 
exceptional." 

"  Quite." 

"  Birth — irreproachable." 

"  We  are  all  begotten  in  the  same  fashion." 

"  Begotten,  but  blood,  my  friend,  blood.  Even 
fish  won't  make  up  for  blood.  But  Melania  Nicho- 
lovna  is  well  bred  as  well  as  wealthy,  and  now  she 
appears  splendid  to  look  upon." 

"  How  you  would  have  gabbled,  Nicholas,  if  you 
had  won  her  !  " 

"  I  wonder  " 

"  Eh  ?  " 

"  If  I  should  have  surpassed  you  ?  " 

"  What  have  I  said  save  that  all  know  ?  " 

"  What  could  you  say  that  all  are  ignorant  of  ?  " 
said  Bulavin  quietly. 

"  I  need  your  imagination." 

"  There  must  be  more  to  tell.  Have  we  heard  all  ? 
They  say  " 

"  Well  ?  " 

"  That  you  are  taking  great  care  of  her." 
"  Who  says  it  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  251 


*'  Gossip." 
"  Pooh  !  " 
"  It  is  not  true  ?  " 

"  It — I — and  why  not  ?  But  gossip  can  go  to 
the  devil,  Nicholas  Dimitrivitch." 

"  I  believe  it  reaches  as  far  sometimes.  But  in 
this  case  gossip  may  tell  the  story  over  the  capital. 
Count  Stolemkin  holds  his  daughter-in-law  a  prisoner, 
says  gossip.  Why  ?  asks  everybody  in  turn.  And 
the  way  gossip  winks  is  wicked.  Oh  !  my  friend, 
my  dear  friend,  you  should  really  see  gossip  wink. 

A  prisoner  "  Bulavin  winked  for  example's 

sake  and  Stolemkin  looked  a  mixture  of  pride  and 
fury. 

Bulavin  was  fishing  adroitly. 

"  There  is  literature  in  a  wink,  Anton." 

"  And  damned  folly." 

"  FoUy,  my  friend,  is  the  wisdom  of  the  joyous. 
And  they,  you  know,  give  spice  to  the  earth.  St. 
Petersburg  is  winking  to  the  tune  of  Melania  Nicho- 
lovna." 

"  Who  composed  the  tune  ?  " 

"  That  is  the  secret,  but  the  tune  is  catching." 

Folly  always  is." 
"  Yes,  it  is  easier  to  catch  folly  than  a  Countess, 
eh,  Anton  ?  " 
"  That  depends." 

"  Um.  But  having  got  a  lady,  make  a  prisoner 
of  her,  eh  ?  " 

"  That  also  depends." 

"  Of  course.  Some  can  hardly  be  worth  it.  But 
what  do  you  say  to  the  talkers,  my  friend  ?  Where 
is  the  lady,  to  begin  with  ?  " 


252  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


I  could  not  betray  her." 

"  Generous  father-in-law !  She  has  certainly 
made  an  impression.  I  wonder  if  she  would  be  as 
particular  about  betraying  her  father-in-law  ?  " 

"  Who  betrays  me  will  be  either  very  clever  or 
very  stupid." 

"  That  is  evident.  And  yet  Melania  Nicholovna, 
Countess  Puroff,  prisoner  because  her  distinguished 
father-in-law,  Count  Stolemkin,  er  " 

"  Well  ?  " 

"  I  believe  it  is  here  that  the  prudent  wink." 

"  Having  nothing  better  to  do." 

**  Some  of  them  say  more." 

"  Oh  !    What  do  they  say  ?  " 

"  That  Puroff  would  not  have  recognized  your 
daughter-in-law. ' ' 

Stolemkin  did  not  like  this  :  it  was  too  direct. 
He  looked  warm. 

"  She  might  not  have  recognized  him,"  he  said,  as 
if  he  would  treat  the  remark  lightly. 

"  By  the  Saints  !  that's  excellent.  She  might  not. 
That  is  just  what  gossip  is  saying." 

"  What  in  Heaven's  name  do  people  want  to 
worry  about  my  affairs  for  ?  "  burst  out  Stolemkin. 

"  No,  my  friend,  not  in  Heaven's  name.  There 
is  nothing  heavenly  in  what  they  say.  It  is  a  topic 
for  Hell,  not  for  Heaven.  They  still  discuss  the 
estates  and  the  jewels  and  the  timber  and  the  fish 
and  the  beauty  of  your  charming  daughter-in-law." 

"  Then  if  it's  a  topic  for  Hell,  let  those  who  discuss 
it,  go  there."    Stolemkin  could  fence  no  more. 

"  I  wonder  if  I  might  see — Melania  Nicholovna  ?  " 
said  Bulavin  blandly. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  253 


"  No.    At  least  not  now — not  yet." 

"  Ah  !    She  is  surely  not  a  prisoner  at  Peterof  ?  " 

"  She  is  not.  She  is — look  here  !  Nicholas  Dimitri- 
vitch,  we  are  old  friends,  but  this  topic  does  not 
please  me.  Have  you  heard  what  happened  to 
Sosonoff  yesterday  ?  " 

Bulavin  returned  with  food  for  reflection.  He 
had  got  little  out  of  Stolemkin,  but  he  saw  the  big 
Count  was  unhappy  and  unsatisfied  and,  though  he 
would  face  his  railleurs,  yet  disliked  the  raillerie. 

It  was  not  very  definite  :  clues  were  wanting. 
Yet  the  girl  was  not  a  prisoner  at  Peterof.  Where 
was  she  ? 

Johan  Branui  had  not  even  found  out  that  when 
he  came  to  tell  his  master  that  Sofia  was  no  longer 
at  Peterof. 

Count  Stolemkin  sat  moodily  thinking.  It  was 
really  very  difficult  for  him  to  decide  upon  a  line  of 
action.  He  knew  he  had  been  fooled,  and  he  would 
dearly  like  to  cut  the  eyelids  from  those  winkers 
who  thought  to  jest  at  his  plight.  (In  his  turn  and 
when  occasion  presented  itself  Stolemkin  was  the 
loudest  jester  of  them  all).  What  is  more  galling 
than  impotence  ?  Stolemkin  was  beginning  to  feel 
that  he  could  do  no  more.  Then  must  he  hear  St. 
Petersburg  laugh  ?    Must  his  name  be  a  by-word  ? 

There  was  just  a  chance  he  might  win,  still 
a  chance  he  could  manage  that  nobody  might  laugh 
without  respect. 

He  went  to  a  cellar,  dark  and  drear,  in  his  house,  at 
which  the  gorgeous  ceremony  of  the  wedding  had 
taken  place  and  there  saw  the  bride. 

Escape  for  her  seemed  a  hopeless  thing.  She 


254  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


was  in  a  cold,  dark  room  about  nine  feet  square  with 
two  men  outside  the  door  constantly  on  guard. 
Some  things  Stolemkin  managed  well.  Sofia  had 
been  just  kept  alive  and  no  more.  Stolemkin  did 
not  dare  go  too  far.  He  was  not  master  of  the  lives, 
even  of  those  who  tricked  him,  when  he  was  in  the 
capital  and  under  the  eyes  of  the  Court.  So  bread 
and  water  and  a  dark  cellar  were  his  attempts  now 
to  break  the  spirit  of  Sofia.  He  dared  not  repeat 
the  torture  of  limb  lest  he  was  forced  at  last  to  tell 
Ostermann  the  story,  and  Sofia  mentioned  the  tortur- 
ing. 

Was  her  spirit  worn  to  confessing  point  ?  Could 
she  still  hold  out  ? 

The  two  men  opened  the  door,  and  Stolemkin 
looked  in.  He  had  a  desire  to  seize  and  shake  Sofia 
or  flog  her  till  she  did  what  he  asked.  But  that,  of 
course,  was  the  natural  spirit  of  the  men  of  power  in 
those  days.  It  is  only  by  revolutions  that  man  has 
been  made  to  respect  man. 

Sofia  was  seated  on  a  wooden  chair,  dressed 
in  a  tight-fitting  rose-coloured  costume,  that  looked 
considerably  out  of  harmony  with  the  place.  A 
string  of  pearls,  a  fine  black  one  in  the  middle, 
was  round  her  neck.    Vasili  had  put  it  there. 

She  looked  tired  physically  and  weak.  But 
there  was  a  look  in  her  eyes  that  would  have  warned 
a  penetrating  man  that  only  a  fool  would  try  to 
break  her  spirit  when  she  had  set  her  mind  on  a 
course.  It  was  possible  to  catch  her  in  a  weak 
moment  physically  and  wrest  some  admission  from 
her,  but  she  would  not  be  worn  by  suffering  to 
change  her  mind.    She  looked  up  with  indifference 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  255 


as  the  door  opened,  and  with  contempt  when  she 
saw  Stolemkin. 

He  shut  the  door  behind  him.  It  was  afternoon, 
and  the  light  came  from  a  high  window  that  caught 
a  few  straggling  beams  from  the  kitchen.  Origin- 
ally, the  rooni  was  a  wine  cellar. 

For  a  moment  there  was  silence.  Stolemkin  in 
his  way  thought  he  was  as  determined  as  Sofia,  but 
he  loved  life  too  much  not  to  be  ready  to  give  in  to 
the  inevitable.  Sofia,  aged  twenty,  could  die.  It 
is  a  state  of  mind  that  can  laugh  at  threats.  The 
young  die  more  easily  than  the  old,  remember.  It 
is  after  forty  we  become  optimists. 

Stolemkin  seemed  to  have  some  glimpse  of  her 
resolution  for  he  saw  from  her  attitude  she  was  weak, 
and  yet  the  scorn  in  her  face  was  as  fixed  as  when  she 
was  first  incarcerated.  He  was  dressed  in  a  dark 
green  suit  with  silk  stockings,  and  shoes  with  silver 
buckles.  He  stood  before  her  in  an  attitude  of 
contemplation.  She  did  not  look  at  him  after  the 
first  glance.  He  went  through  various  emotions, 
hope,  disappointment,  rage,  and  opened  the  conver- 
sation with — 

"  Have  you  had  enough  ?  "  spoken  with  some 
decency. 

She  did  not  answer. 

'*  I  can  give  you  more,"  he  said. 

She  looked  as  if  all  he  could  do  was  a  matter  of 
supreme  indifference  to  her.  The  easiest  to  handle 
in  these  great  crises  are  those  who  cling  to  life  and 
fear  death.  A  chin  like  Sofia's  and  the  fear  of 
nothing  before  her  eyes  made  threatening  stale  work. 

"  Shall  I  flog  you  ?  "  he  said. 


256  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Don't  talk  like  a  fool/'  she  said  quietly. 

He  clenched  his  fists  in  his  rage. 

"  My  God  !  "  Never  had  he  been  so  treated  by 
a  woman.    It  was  unheard  of. 

She  looked  disdainful. 
You  waste  your  time,"  she  said.    "  I  have  told 
you  not  to  worry  me." 

"  But  I  mean  to  worry  you,  baggage  !  I  mean  to 
worry  you  till  I  get  what  I  want."  He  itched  to 
strike  her. 

What  is  that  ?  "  she  asked  calmly,  calming  him 
a  little  with  the  tone. 
"  Countess  Puroff." 
"  Then  get  her." 
"  Tell  me  where  she  is." 
*'  I  am  not  a  fool." 

"  But  you  will  tell,"  he  said  threateningly. 
She  did  not  speak. 

"  What  will  persuade  you  ?  "  he  said,  and,  as  he 
dropped  his  menacing  tone,  he  came  nearest  to 
success. 

She  shook  her  head.  Perhaps  she  was  a  little 
obstinate,  driven  by  Stolemkin  and  his  method. 
The  shaking  of  the  head  seemed  to  suggest  "  Noth- 
ing— that  I  can  think  of." 

Stolemkin  who  loved  mastery  much,  loved  vic- 
tory more.  He  had  for  an  instant  a  decent  instinct 
towards  a  conciliatory  attitude. 

"  Why  won't  you  tell  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Why  should  I  ?  " 

"  To  save  yourself." 

She  looked  at  him  curiously  and  searchingly. 
"  What  for  ?    I  fear  nothing." 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  257 


"  Oh !  Not  torture  and  death  ?  Don't  be  a 
fool.  What  will  silence  serve  you  then  ?  Tell  me 
where  Countess  Puroff  is ;  help  me  to  get  hold  of 
her  and  I — yes,  I  will  let  you  go/' 

Sofia  felt  the  bending  attitude.  After  all,  what 
was  Countess  Puroff  to  her  ?  But  why  did  Stolem- 
kin  want  her  ?  For  his  son,  of  course.  For  Vasili. 
Sofia  felt  a  wave  of  emotion  surge  within  her.  For 
Vasili — where  was  he  now  ?  Was  he  well  ?  What 
would  happen  if  Countess  Puroff  did  come  and  she — 
Sofia — was  liberated  ?  Vasili  was  married  and 
would  go  with  her  to  the  Valdai  Hills.  Count  Sto- 
lemkin  clearly  thought  of  something  else — divorce. 
Sofia  gave  a  shrug  of  contempt.  She  could  laugh  at 
that :  she  felt  Vasili  would. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  Sofia. 

"  Don't  be  foolish.  The  day  I  hold  Countess 
Puroff  that  day  shall  you  go  free.  It  is  ten  times 
better  than  rotting  in  this  hole — much  better  than 
the  knout  and,  I  fancy,  pleasant er  than  death." 

Sofia  was  weighing  up  the  circumstances  for  her- 
self. If  Countess  Puroff  comes  she  can't  be  mar- 
ried to  Vasili,  for  Vasili  is  mine.  Count  Stolemkin 
is  reckoning  on  divorce.  What  does  that  matter  ? 
She  had  an  inspiration. 

"  TeU  Mr.  Gordon,"  she  said,  "  tell  him  to  tell  my 
brother  I  am  a  prisoner  in  your  keeping  and  that 
you  agree  to  let  me  go  in  return  for  Countess  Puroff." 

She  leaned  towards  him  a  little  in  her  eagerness. 

Stolemkin  hesitated,  and  then  looked  pleased. 
The  idea  was  promising.  His  big  fat  face  showed 
content. 

The  next  moment  there  was  an  altercation  out- 

R 


258  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


side.  Sofia  made  a  dash  for  the  door  but  Stolemkin, 
quite  alert,  caught  her,  pushed  her  back  and  then 
drew  his  pistol. 

"  Be  quiet,  or  I  shoot,"  he  said.  Then  he  opened 
the  door. 

Vasili  dashed  past  him  like  a  rabbit. 

"  Sofia,  Sofia,"  he  cried  like  one  on  the  verge  of 
hysteria. 

"  Vasili,"  she  said  as  she  held  him,  more  like  a 
mother  than  a  mistress. 

"  Pooh  !  "  said  Solemkin  with  magnificent  scorn. 

It  took  four  men,  nevertheless,  to  drag  Vasili 
from  the  cellar,  later  in  the  evening. 


CHAPTER  XXI 


"...  A  tale  re-told,  a  race  re-run  " 

STOLEMKIN  was  amazed  at  his  son.  For  that 
matter,  he  wondered  at  many  things ;  but 
the  unexpected  antics  of  our  own  upset  us  most. 
We  feel  we  have  a  kind  of  vested  interest  in  our 
expectations.  A  distant  enterprise  in  which  we 
placed  our  money  (and  hope)  may  give  us  a  shock 
when  the  bankruptcy  is  announced  but  it  is  nothing 
to  the  shock  we  get  when  A,  who  has  behaved  exact- 
ly as  we  anticipated  for  twenty  years  suddenly 
does  the  thing  we  never  calculated  on.  Our  pre- 
science is  at  fault.  If  we  are  not  to  trust  to  our  judg- 
ment in  relation  to  our  own,  when  are  we  to  trust 
to  it  ?  Imagine  trying  to  catch  a  bear  and  seeing  it 
fly  ?  Preposterous.  Of  course,  it  is  preposterous. 
Balaam's  ass  was  preposterous.  So  was  Stolemkin's 
son.  To  see  the  brave  man  turn  coward  is  the  most 
shameful,  the  most  humiliating  of  sights  :  to  see  the 
coward  turn  brave  is  to  be  given  a  glimpse  of  Para- 
dise. Heaven  surely  is  the  home  of  the  beautiful 
and  the  brave.    Only  the  brave  are  altogether  lovely. 

But  Stolemkin  was  too  much  of  a  bully  to  think 
he  had  seen  Paradise  because  Vasili  had  shown 
spirit.  Bullies  lack  the  gift  of  appreciation.  Theii 
values  are  all  askew  because  their  common  denom- 

259 


26o  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


inator  is  self.  You  can't  see  other  people  properly 
when  you  are  always  squinting  at  yourself  in  the 
mirror. 

Stolemkin  wondered  without  admiration.  He  ate, 
drank  and  kept  saying  to  himself  that  he  couldn't 
understand,  he  couldn't  really,  it  was  not  really 
understandable.  He  never  thought  a  woman  could 
accomplish  so  much.  Vasili  was  such  a  sugary 
creature  too — all  pap  and  fears  !  Well,  well,  well ! 
He  went  on  eating  and  drinking  and  considered  the 
other  case. 

Sofia.  He  had  got  her  at  last.  Tell  Gordon  to 
tell  the  brother — um  ! — all  that  meant  that  the 
brother  held  Countess  Puroff  prisoner  and  now  this 
woman  (Sofia)  was  willing  to  be  exchanged  for  her. 

He  would  like  to  flog  the  brazen  hussy  that  had 
played  the  trick  on  him,  but  it  was  better  to  let  the 
flogging  go  to  escape  the  awful  ridicule  of  the  Court. 

If  he  got  hold  of  Countess  Puroff  what  would  he 
do  ?  Marry  her  himself,  if  need  be.  Vasili  must 
divorce  this  other  baggage,  but  rather  than  Bulavin 
should  win  and  jeer,  he  (Stolemkin)  would  marry 
the  little  Countess  himself. 

So  he  sent  for  Vasili,  for  his  son  knew  where 
Gordon  was.  Vasili  appeared  worse  for  the  hand- 
ling but  neither  meek  nor  apologetic. 

Stolemkin  wanted  to  strike  him  for  his  attitude 
alone.  It  was  not  humble  enough.  There  was  no 
obsequiousness  in  it.  He  had  sworn  at  his  son  in 
days  past  for  his  lack  of  spirit,  but  now  he  wished 
to  knock  him  down  because  he  showed  some.  Pure 
buUyism. 

Vasili  put  his  coat  straight  and  looked  tolerantly 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  261 


at  a  big  man  who  was  trying  to  stop  his  nose  bleed- 
ing. 

"  What  has  happened  to  you  ?  "  asked  Stolemkin 

Vasili  shrugged  his  shoulders; 

"  So  much,  sir,  that  I  hardly  know  myself." 

"  You  have  got  contaminated  by  this  peasant 
wench.  Well,  make  the  most  of  her.  She  says 
Countess  Puroff  is  in  the  charge  of  her  brother.  So 
go  to  Gordon,  who  knows  where  her  brother  is,  and 
tell  him  that  I  am  willing  to  let  his  sister  go  free  when 
I  have  possession  of  Countess  Puroff." 

Vasili  looked  radiant. 
You  will — oh  !    father."    Vasili  might  have 
thrown  himself  in  his  joy  at  his  father's  feet,  but  he 
was  met  with — 

You  fool !    What  ?  " 

"  To  rescue  Sofia.  I  will  go  to  Gordon  at  once. 
It  is  a  bargain  ?  I  may  tell  Gordon  he  may  rely 
on  this  ?  " 

In  the  name  of  all  the  Saints  I  what  has  come 
over  you  ?  And  do  you  dare  to  doubt  my  word  ? 
I  have  told  you  what  I  will  do." 

"  And  Sofia — you  will  treat  her  well  ?  You  will, 
father  ?  " 

"  I  will  treat  you  to  a  flogging,  and  her  too,  if  you 
do  not  go  at  once,  you  worm  of  a  jester  !  " 

Vasili  actually  looked  indifferent.  He  paused,  as 
if  he  must  consider  everything  first,  and  looked  at 
his  father  as  if  to  read  him. 

I  will  go,"  he  said  quietly.  "  But  if  Sofia  is 
injured,  Countess  Puroff  will  probably  not  come." 

Vasili  went  out  like  a  man  who  had  foimd  the 
lost  sheep. 


262  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Gordon  and  Glebof  were  getting  haggard  and 
impatient.  They  ran  risks,  of  course,  for  if  Stolem- 
kin  denounced  them  they  might  be  arrested  at  any 
moment,  and  if  they  were  once  taken  hfe  would 
quickly  lose  all  zest  for  them. 

The  two  were  together,  alone,  when  Vasili  burst  in 
on  them.  Glebof  looked  very  ugly,  for  he  was  begin- 
ing  to  hatch  desperate  schemes. 

Vasili  fastened  the  door  and  looked  first  at  one 
and  then  at  the  other  gloriously. 

"  You've  found  her  !  "  said  Gordon.  "  You  are 
an  angel !    I  guessed  you  would." 

"  Where  is  she  ?  "  asked  Glebof,  walking  towards 
Vasili. 

"  In  my  father's  house,"  said  Vasili. 
"  Where  ?  " 
"  Where  !  " 

In  a  cellar — an  old  wine  cellar.  A  hideous  room 
for  her.  But  I  dashed  in.  Little  Gobellski  told 
me  where  she  was,  only  I  must  not  betray  him.  So 
you  must  never  mention  that.  Poor  little  Gobellski, 
I  must  reward  him  !    I  dashed  in  and  " 

"  You  left  her  there  ?  "  asked  Glebof. 
I  come  with  a  message"  from  my  father.  They 
dragged  me  from  her.    It  took  four  of  them  too. 
But  my  father  wanted  to  send  a  message  to  you." 

"  To  me  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  What  is  it  ?  " 

"  My  poor  Sofia  !  If  they  touch  her.  But  I 
don't  think  they  will.  Two  of  them  had  to  hold  her 
and  I  nearly  broke  the  head  of  one  " 

"  What  is  the  message  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


263 


"  Yes.  Father  says  he  will  give  up  Sofia  if  you 
will  give  Countess  Puroff  up  to  him.    You  will  ?  " 

"  Your  father  be  damned  !  "  said  Gordon,  and 
then  he  looked  at  Glebof. 

I  thought  he  would  think  it  worth  while,"  said 
Glebof  quietly.  "  You  needn't  damn  the  villain, 
Gordon,  for  it  is  the  price  I  offered  you  or  Count 
Bulavin." 

"  But  he  holds  your  sister,"  said  Gordon.  "  The 
offer  is  not  much  good  to  me  now." 

"  Then  why  didn't  you  get  hold  of  her  ?  "  Gle- 
bof shook  his  head.  This  is  a  bargain,"  he  said, 
"  I  can't  afford  to  wait  any  longer  or  risk  more." 

Gordon  was  disturbed.  The  knowledge  that 
Sofia  was  in  the  hands  of  Stolemkin  and  he  was 
ready  to  give  her  up  for  Melania  Nicholovna  brought 
home  to  Gordon  the  proximity  of  a  crisis.  So  long 
as  Sofia's  whereabouts  were  unknown  there  seemed 
always  a  chance  of  something  happening  to  set  him 
on  the  road  to  his  heart's  desire.  But  in  Stolem- 
kin's  hands  Sofia  would  be  held  to  due  ransom  and 
Countess  Puroff  in  the  power  of  Stolemkin  was  a 
thing  unthinkable. 

Glebof  seemed  more  contented  now  he  knew  where 
his  sister  was. 

Gordon  caught  his  eye.    Glebof  held  the  cards. 

"  It  is  very  hard  for  Countess  Puroff,"  said  Gor- 
don. 

"  Would  you  have  it  harder  for  my  sister  ?  " 
"  You  know  what  it  will  mean  to  Countess 
Puroff  ?  " 
Glebof  shrugged  his  shoulders. 
"  What  wUl  Stolemkin  do  ?  " 


264  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Gordon  paused  to  think.  Vasili  was  married, 
what  could  Stolemkin  want  with  Melania  Nicho- 
lovna  ?  Yet  he  was  not  a  man  to  give  up  vengeance 
for  nothing. 

Vasili  interrupted — 
My  father  thinks  I  shall  divorce  Sofia." 

He  said  it  with  an  exquisite  intonation — when 
one  thinks  of  what  the  old  Vasili  was.  He  might 
have  been  referring  to  a  child  or  a  cripple,  or  to  the 
pious  wish  of  an  incapable,  for  he  spoke  as  if  the 
thought  were  equal  to  a  jest — ^no  more. 

Gordon,  in  spite  of  his  perplexity,  smiled  slightly. 

Glebof  was  serious,  but  could  not  miss  the  atti- 
tude. Besides,  Vasili  had  not  a  commanding  air. 
He  was  now  just  a  being  of  respect.  His  hair  hung 
deep  in  his  neck.  His  dimpled  chin  and  thin  nose 
looked  unharmonious  in  rough  affairs.  His  brown 
eyes  though,  once  so  timid,  now  had  a  fine  frank 
gaze.  There  was  tenderness  and  depth,  and  a  woman 
would  find  pleasure  in  them,  but  they  did  not  droop 
and  look  timorous.  As  eyes  they  had  changed 
wonderfully.  Mirrors  of  the  soul — they  well  de- 
served the  title.  Vasili  had  got  a  new  soul  or  else 
made  his  old  one  take  on  a  new  fire.  He  sat  on  the 
edge  of  the  table,  dangling  his  thin  leg,  stockinged  in 
pale  blue.  His  coat  and  breeches  were  dark  blue 
and  his  vest  was  flowered  with  exotics  unearthly. 
He  looked  debonnair  and  almost  happy.  After  all 
he  had  found  his  Sofia  ! 

Glebof  was  interested  by  the  remark. 

"  Divorce  Sofia  "    To  him  the  remark  was 

not  jocular  :  it  was  something  terribly  serious — if 
there  were  any  seriousness  in  it  at  all.    At  present 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  365 


unfortunately,  he  had  had  no  word  from  Sofia  her- 
self. But  Vasili  seemed  honest,  and  he  loved  her. 
That  was  an  odd  thing.  But  not  so  odd  as  that  Sofia 
loved  him.    Gordon  said  that  was  true. 

Suppose  your  father  makes  you,"  said  Glebof 
to  Vasili,  for  he  too  was  of  the  commanding  order 
and  knew  that  the  strong  compelled  the  weak. 

"  Makes  me  ?  "  repeated  Vasili,  leaning  forward. 

"  Yes." 

"  He  won't." 

"  He  might." 

"  He  can  t." 

"  Can't,"  said  Glebof,  while  Gordon  smiled  inter- 
estedly. The  two  big  men  caught  each  other's  eyes 
again  and  agreed  (without  saying  anything)  that  the 
remark  was  worthy  of  notice. 

"No— can't.  Nobody  can,"  said  VasUi.  "Of 
course  I  might  be  punished — I  don't  know.  I  might 
even  be  tortured,  but  that  wouldn't  make  me  divorce 
Sofia — unless  she  wished." 

"  Does  she  wish  ?  "  asked  Glebof  quietly. 

Vasili  looked  at  him  with  surprise. 

"  Sofia  ?  No.  But  you  have  not  seen  her.  You 
do  not  know.  She  might  at  first,  but  not  now. 
Now — I  cannot  tell  you.  I  would  die  for  her,  Juri 
Petrovitch,  and  I  think  she  would  die  for  me." 

They  were  all  silent.  Glebof  and  Gordon  felt 
themselves  in  a  somewhat  strange  atmosphere. 
Vasili  was  in  love  and  recked  little  of  the  atmosphere. 

"  Is  it  really  true  ?  "  Glebof  asked  Gordon. 

"  I  think  so." 

"  True,"  repeated  Vasili,  surprised  at  the  ques- 
tion.   "  But  of  course  you  haven't  seen.    It  is  true." 


266  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  And  what  does  my  sister  want  ?  "  asked 
Glebof. 

"  I — I  did  not  ask.    But  of  course  she  must  be 
set  free." 
"  Yes  " 

"  But/'  interrupted  Gordon,  is  there  no  other 
way  of  setting  her  free  than  by  making  Countess 
Puroff  a  prisoner  in  her  place  ?  That  is  not  chival- 
rous." 

"  Do  you  think  I  am  here  for  chivalry  ?  "  asked 
Glebof,  in  his  direct  way. 

"Is  it  fair  ?  "  retorted  Gordon. 

"  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  that  either.  My 
desire  is  to  free  my  sister.  Tell  me  a  better  way 
than  exchanging  the  little  Countess  for  her." 

It  is  possible  to  take  her  by  force  now  we  know 
where  she  is." 

This  is  St.  Petersburg,  not  the  forest.  I  know 
nothing  of  ways  here.  But  I  will  run  no  risks  for 
Sofia,  why  should  I  ?  " 

"  For  the  sake  of  another  lady  ?  " 

"  For  your  sake,  eh  ?  " 
Why  not  ?  " 

Glebof  shook  his  head.  He  looked  a  difficult 
man  to  move.  His  was  a  hard  type — his  affection 
for  his  sister  was  a  wonderful  thing.  His  eyes  were 
black,  and  bridged  with  fairly  thick  but  orderly 
black  eyebrows.  He  had  the  long  commanding 
nose,  a  sloping  forehead  with  his  perceptives  well 
developed.  He  cultivated  a  moustache,  but  it  was 
small,  and  did  not  hide  his  mouth,  which  in  spite  of 
the  moderate  thickness  of  his  lips  formed  a  straight 
line  when  shut. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  267 


*'  There  is  no  why  not,"  he  said.  "  I  shall  do  the 
best  for  my  sister,  not  the  middling  or  the  moderate, 
but  the  best." 

"  Regardless  of  other  people  ?  " 

**  Yes.  Regardless  of  other  people.  She  comes 
first.  Don't  try  to  move  me,  Gordon.  I  know  what 
I  want  and  what  I  mean  to  do.  Suppose  you  tried 
to  get  Sofia  out  by  force  from  this  Stolemkin — and 
failed,  eh,  what  then  ?  " 
Well  ?  " 

"  Is  it  not  likely  he  would  think  it  was  all  trickery, 
this  pretence  of  fetching  Countess  Puroff  and  hand 
Sofia  over  to  the  police  ?  " 

"  You  easily  think  of  failure." 

"  You  have  not  succeeded  so  well,  have  you  ? 
You  tried  to  rescue  her  from  Peterof,  but  you  failed." 
Glebof  made  a  sweeping  gesture  with  his  hand.  If 
Sofia  were  free  it  would  be  different,"  he  said. 

Gordon  looked  dissatisfied.  He  saw  that  Glebof 
was,  from  his  point  of  view,  acting  wisely.  Yet  the 
outlook  was  not  altogether  dark  even  if  there  were 
clouds  to  be  seen. 

Gordon  might  have  risked  rescuing  Sofia  from 
Stolemkin.  In  case  of  success  there  would  be  an 
instant  hue  and  cry,  and  if  Sofia,  by  any  mishap, 
should  be  retaken,  Glebof  would  forgive  nothing, 
and  what  might  then  happen  to  Melania  Nicholovna 
was  a  thing  not  fit  for  speculation. 

And  Gordon  had  still  a  chance.  Stolemkin  would 
take  care  of  Sofia.  She  was  his  hostage.  She  was 
his  shield  and  buckler  against  the  slings  and  arrows 
of  outrageous  laughter  :  but  Melania  Nicholovna 
would  not  be  so  guarded.    Holding  her  Stolemkin 


268  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


would  think  all  well.    The  guard  would  be  dropped, 

for  nothing  would  be  feared  and  then          It  would 

be  doing  the  world  a  service  to  rid  Stolemkin  of 
Countess  Puroff.  Still,  there  is  no  necessity  to  drag 
the  world  in. 

So  Gordon  was  silent,  and  considered  and  consider- 
ing acquiesced. 

"  What  will  you  do  ?  "  he  asked  of  Glebof. 

"  Send  for  Countess  Puroff." 

'*  Shall  I  go  back  and  tell  my  father  ?  "  asked 
Vasili  excitedly. 

"No,"  said  Gordon. 

They  both  looked  at  him  wonderingly. 
Why  ?  " 

"  If  Count  Stolemkin  is  set  on  a  divorce  it  might 
be  as  well  to  keep  his  son  from  him — till  he  has  given 
up  your  sister." 

Vasili  laughed — the  laugh  of  the  emancipated. 

"  You  are  afraid  for  me,"  he  said. 
I  don't  want  anything  to  happen  to  spoil  this 
compact,"  said  Gordon.    "  Let  the  exchange  be 
made  and  then  " 

Vasili  talked  of  nothing  on  earth  divorcing  him 
from  his  beloved  Sofia,  but  Glebof  made  him  promise, 
nevertheless,  that  after  one  visit  to  his  father  (which 
would  probably  include  an  interview  with  Sofia) 
Vasili  would  promise  to  keep  away  from  his  paternal 
home. 

Vasili  looked  rebellious,  but  wound  up  by  saying 
that  he  would  refuse  to  tell  his  father  what  Glebof's 
reply  was  unless  he  was  allowed  to  see  Sofia.  He  was 
delighted  at  the  idea. 

I  will  go  for  Countess  Puroff,"  said  Gordon. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  369 


Glebof  did  not  answer  at  first,  and  he  certainly 
looked  dubious. 

"  You  may  trust  me,"  said  Gordon,  seeing  Glebof  s 
doubtful  expression. 

"  I  find  it  wise  never  to  be  too  trustful,"  said 
Glebof. 

"  Nobody  lives  without  trusting  somebody." 
"  And  nobody  thrives  who  trusts  too  much." 
"  I  will  give  you  my  word." 
"  Pooh  !  " 

Clearly  Glebof  was  a  tough  man  to  handle. 

"  My  God  !  You  are  about  the  only  man  who 
dared  say  that  when  I  offered  my  word." 

"  No  offence,  Gordon,"  said  Glebof  calmly.  "  I 
want  the  actual  so  far  as  I  can  realize  it.  I  live 
like  kings  and  commanders.  I  take  what  I  can  and 
trust  as  little  as  possible,  for  all  men  are  moved  by 
their  advantage." 

"  And  other  things  ?  " 

"  Their  satisfactions — and  of  course  people  are 
fools.  Nobody  can  count  on  the  course  of  an  idiot." 
He  shook  his  head. 

"  I  mean,"  said  Gordon,  "  to  fight  for  Melania 
Nicholovna." 

"  Well  ?  " 

"  I  want  to  let  you  know — that  is  all." 

"  I  know.  I  always  imagined  you  would.  You 
have  some  of  the  instincts  of — our  friend  here." 

Vasili  laughed.  He  appeared  to  be  the  most 
joyous  of  the  three. 

"  Whom  will  you  send  for  Countess  Puroff  ?  " 
asked  Gordon. 

A  messenger.    But  you  can  go  if  you  will.  I 


270  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


trust  you.  I  trust  very  few,  but  when  I  do,  it  is 
because  I  cannot  help  myself." 

"I  will  take  Belof  with  me,"  said  Gordon,  advanc- 
ing towards  Glebof  and  holding  out  his  hand. 

"  Her  man  ?  Very  well.  There  will  be  others. 
And  you  will  ride  fair  ?  " 

"  I  would  be  beside  her,  that  is  all.  Since  she 
must  come  to  St.  Petersburg,  I  would  come  with  her. 
I  will  be  honourable.  It  will  be  when  Stolemkin  has 
her  that  I  shall  get  my  chance." 

Glebof  nodded. 

"  Yes,  I  trust  you.  Hasten,  for  I  want  to  see 
Sofia  free,  and  if  I  can,  I  will  help  you  afterwards." 

So  Gordon  got  ready  again  to  journey  to  Countess 
Puroff.  Belof  gave  himself  up  to  tears  and  ejacula- 
tions and  prayers.  He  was  going  to  greet  his  mis- 
tress at  last.  Gordon  felt  cold  beside  him — till  they 
started,  and  the  face  of  Melania  Nicholovna  grew 
more  and  more  distinct.  It  was  to  Gordon  a  cloud 
by  day  and  a  pillar  of  fire  by  night.  The  auburn 
aureole,  the  azure  lights  beneath.  .  . 

And  for  a  moment  Gordon  thought  of  her  in  the 
arms  of  Stolemkin. 

He  yelled  to  the  post-boys  to  go  faster. 


CHAPTER  XXII 


**  Let  one  but  bear  your  love,  I'll  bear  your  cares." 


.l\  What  had  not  happened  since  Gordon  went 
the  first  time  at  the  request  of  Count  Stolemkin  ! 
The  stars  had  rolled  on  in  their  courses,  the  moon 
had  waxed  and  waned,  the  great  unfathomable 
unsoundable  things  outside  the  earth  had  continued 
their  ordered  labours,  all  things  else  seemed  the 
same  and  yet  with  him — Gordon — what  a  difference  ! 

Now  as  he  set  out  a  second  time  to  go  on  the 
road  towards  Buof — ^but  not  so  far — the  incidents  of 
the  first  journey  came  back  to  him.  Nickoff 
and  Pendeff  were  with  him  then.  And  yet  how 
different  in  atmosphere,  not  only  in  men,  it  seemed  ! 
There  was  a  colour  as  of  flowers  in  the  first  journey. 
It  was  pleasant  but  without  great  zest  :  there  was 
motion  without  excitement,  a  rosiness  without  thorns. 
The  landscape  came  and  faded  ;  there  was  a  dim 
murmur  of  oozing  time,  there  were  the  ordinary 
joltings  and  stoppings,  all  without  a  blaze  till  Mel- 
ania  Nicholovna  appeared. 

At  the  thought  of  her  Gordon  twisted.  He  had 
lived  an  adventurous  life,  but  this  slip  of  a  girl  had 


— Henry  IV. 


SECOND  time  to  fetch  Countess  Puroff ! 


271 


272  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


put  her  delicate  hands  on  his  heart  and  he  could  not 
chose  but  love. 

The  carriage  whirled  on,  jolted,  went  smoothly, 
stopped,  went  on  again.    Life's  progress. 

Melania  Nicholovna.  .  .  .  He  recalled  with  vivid- 
ness his  first  sight  of  her,  her  winsomeness,  her 
naturalness,  her  trusting  look  in  her  sea  blue  eyes. 

As  he  sat  back  in  the  kibitka  he  lost  all  touch 
with  his  surroundings,  lost  all  sense  of  motion. 
He  did  not  realize  it,  for  he  was  not  usually  a  self- 
inquiring  man.  He  was  not  for  ever  asking  himself 
why  he  did  this  and  that  and  probing  into  the  inner- 
most cupboards  of  his  motives.  He  gave  himself 
up  at  this  moment  to  the  luxury  of  living  over 
again  that  meeting  at  Buof.  He  had  recalled  it 
dozens  of  times  and  yet  frequency  could  not  stale 
its  infinite  charm.  He  was  another  being,  gentle, 
almost  timid,  one  who  waited  and  looked  for  a  sign 
of  favour. 

Melania's  features  played  all  sorts  of  pranks 
with  him.  He  found  it  difficult  to  recall  her  more 
exactly,  and  the  inability  almost  gave  him  pain. 
It  was  as  if  he  might  lose  her  altogether.  If  he 
could  not  see  her  exactly  as  she  was  then  anything 
might  happen.  He  really  felt  a  vague  sense  of 
something  untoward,  something  that  might  be  dis- 
astrous. Then  some  little  turn  of  her  head  came  in 
wonderful  vividness.  The  effect  was  instantaneous 
and  remarkable,  as  sudden  as  a  child's  turning  from 
sorrow  to  gladness.  Gordon  tingled.  He  could 
do  nothing,  of  course,  but  just  lie  there  and  enjoy 
and  hope  the  vision  would  stay. 

But  it  went.    It  was  succeeded  by  others  and 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


273 


always  the  effect  was  the  same  :  the  fighting  Gordon 
became  as  gentle  as  a  child.  He  got  exquisite 
happiness  from  seeing  Melania  come  out  of  her 
house,  get  into  the  carriage,  and  recalling  the  sound  of 
her  voice.  Her  voice  and  little  turns  of  her  head 
were  more  persistent  impressions  than  isolated 
features.  ...  Louis  Alexandrovitch  " — to  re- 
catch  her  manner  of  saying  that  was  a  thing 
ecstatic. 

On  dreaming — dreaming  and  seeing  visions — 
Gordon  went. 

He  recalled  that  hideous  capture  in  the  wood  ! 
(He  could  not  do  otherwise  now  than  live  over  the 
past  journey).  What  awful  things  might  have 
happened!  Bandits — wretched  cut- throats  !  Phew! 
A  sense  of  the  danger  struck  him  keenly.  These 
robbers  were  capable  of  anything,  and  if  he  had 
been  killed  or  the  paper  lost.  .  .  What  a  gloomy 
speculation  ! 

And  yet  as  it  had  turned  out,  all  was  perhaps 
for  the  best.  Perhaps.  .  .  .  Had  he  taken  her  to 
Stolemkin  Vasili  might  have  married  her.  That 
was  a  torturing  thought.  Some  other  man  might 
have  married  her.  She  would  have  been  in  some  one 
else's  arms,  those  eyes  would  have  looked  in  an- 
other's face,  that  hair  been  caressed  by  another's 
hands.    Melania,  that  dear  jewel! 

Gordon  sat  up.  That  vision  was  too  unpleasant. 
He  looked  round  to  dissipate  it.  "  On  !  On  !  "  he 
cried  to  the  postillions. 

By  town  and  village,  across  river,  through  valley 
and  forest  they  went.  Gordon,  usually  observant, 
saw  little  of  it  all.    Everything  was  transfigured. 

s 


274  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


The  landscape  faded,  the  forests  faded,  the  rivers 
even  melted  into  a  human  face. 

It  was  a  dip  into  present  realism  when  there  was 
a  stop  at  the  post  houses.  Gordon  then  had  to  give 
up  his  rioting  thoughts. 

As  they  drew  near  to  the  home  of  the  robbers  near 
the  Valdai  Hills,  one  of  Gordon's  company  rode 
ahead.  He  observed  and  was  observed  by  a  wood- 
chopping  peasant  and  realized  that  all  was  well. 

Gordon  in  this  place  had  again  but  one  thought 
with  a  hundred  faces.  Definitely  it  was  :  Here 
is  Melania  Nicholovna.  Disturbingly  it  was,  every- 
thing such  an  idea  might  transmogrify. 

Gordon  peered  to  right  and  left.  He  looked  out 
of  the  kibitka  first  to  one  side  and  then  to  the 
other.    He  was  unstable,  astatic. 

He  saw  men  first,  but  they  did  not  interest  him. 
These  men  whom  he  would  have  observed  so 
critically  at  other  times  were  mere  specks  before  his 
eyes.    And  yet  he  had  to  see  them  properly. 

The  leader  was  a  tough  man  in  the  prime  of  life. 
He  had  been  a  big  landowner  who  had  gambled 
away  great  possessions  and  joined  Glebof  for  a  life 
of  excitement.  The  life  had  sobered  him  and  he  be- 
came a  businesslike  bandit. 

He  read  Glebof's  letter  and  greeted  Gordon 
courteously.    (Gordon  was  restless  as  a  leopard). 

Brouin — the  bandit — said  :  "  You  want  to  see 
the  httle  lady  ?  " 

"  I  do,"  said  Gordon.  Little  lady,  indeed ! 
And  the  bloodless  tone  of  the  question  !  Gordon 
was  piercing  every  nook  and  cranny  of  the  place 
with  his  glances. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


275 


Brouin  pointed  with  his  hand  to  a  wooden  hut 
among  the  trees. 

"  May  I  go  ?  "  said  Gordon,  with  not  quite  such 
audacity  now  he  actually  saw. 

"  You  will  be  ready  to  start  soon  ?  " 

"  As  soon  as  you  wish." 

"Then  don't  delay  the  httle  lady.  The  chief 
says  no  time  must  be  lost." 

"  I  shall  lose  no  time,"  said  Gordon  fervently, 
and  he  strode  towards  the  abode  of  the  "  little 
lady." 

He  caught  sight  of  her,  for  the  noise  of  the  move- 
ment of  horses  and  carriages  and  men  had  dis- 
turbed her  and  she  came  out  curiously  inclined. 

He  wished  to  run — that  is,  he  had  an  instinct 
that  way,  but  checked  it,  for,  after  all,  he  was  scarcely 
entitled  to  swoop  down  on  her  like  a  hawk  on  a 
rabbit. 

She  trembled.  Doubt,  possibility,  probability,  and 
then  a  wild  emotion  possessed  her  and  she  waited 
with  tingling  joy. 

His  hat  swung  off  and  he  caught  her  hand. 
"  Melania  Nicholovna." 

And  she,  with  nothing  more  than :  "  Louis 
Alexandrovitch."  But  her  hand  trembled  and  then 
gripped  his  as  if  she  would  be  held  longer.  She 
coloured  like  a  garden  in  the  sun  and  her  eyes 
hinted  at  a  thrilling  tale. 

"  At  last,"  he  said,  feeling  more  than  he  could 
say  and  desiring  to  say  so  much. 

"  Oh  !  at  last."  She,  too,  found  words  not  easy. 
Emotion  has  tremendous  power.  It  can  raise, 
lower  and  dominate.    Speech  is  its  slave.    For  the 


276  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


moment  it  held  these  two  bound,  and  unloosed  them 
slowly. 

She  recovered  and  looked  at  him  as  if  he  were 
a  hero  extraordinary.  Perhaps  it  was  the  long 
expectation  that  heightened  the  attitude. 

"  I  was  so  afraid,"  she  murmured,  the  roses  in  her 
cheek.  "  Is  all  well  ?  "  They  grew  calmer  with 
words  and  more  comfortable. 

They  strolled  towards  her  hut  where  rude  chairs 
were  outside,  and  she  sat  down.  He  explained  the 
situation,  how  Sofia  had  been  captured  by  Stolemkin 
and  what  that  gentleman's  demands  were. 

She  paled. 
He  wants  me  ?  " 

"It  is  the  condition." 

"  I  will  not  go,"  she  said. 

He  made  no  answer. 

"  Would  you  let  me  ?  "  she  asked.  A  feminine 
question.  A  hallon  d'essai  from  the  heart's  head- 
quarters. 

"  Dear  lady.  I  would  let  you  do  all  you  wished 
that  was  for  your  good.  But  I — ^what  am  I  ?  " 
Something  of  a  grappling  hook  for  the  balloon, 
this  last. 

"  Louis  Alexandrovitch,"  she  murmured,  as  if 
that  were  enough.  "  And  you  would  let  me  go  to 
Count  Stolemkin  ?  " 

He  took  her  hand  boldly.  Would  you  give  me 
the  right  to  try  and  guard  you  ?  " 

It  was  not  direct  enough,  and  she  looked  at  him  so 
that  her  glances  gripped  his  soul.  He  could  not 
wait.  He  was  a  man  of  action,  head  over  ears  in 
love  with  a  girl  whose  eyes  played  havoc  with  him. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


277 


He  took  her  in  his  strong  arms  and  held  her  to  his 
breast. 

"  Will  you  give  me  this  right  ?  he  said  with 
accents  so  true  of  feeling  that  she  felt  as  happy  as 
a  sailor  who  crosses  the  bar.  She  was  in  the  harbour 
where  she  would  be,  and  looked  up  to  him  with 
bewitching  roguery :  for  radiant  happiness  will 
insist  on  an  outlet,  and  we  have  so  few  channels  for 
ecstacy  no  wonder  we  are  occasionally  surprised 
at  the  antics  of  the  happy. 

"  You  take  it,"  she  said  softly,  nestling  rather 
than  struggling. 

He  took  her  chin  in  his  hand,  and  her  lips  were 
quivering.  He  slowly  bent  his  head  towards  hers. 
"  And  this  ?  "  he  said,  staying,  not  to  violate. 

She  flung  her  head  back  surrenderingly,  and  he 
pressed  his  lips  to  hers. 

"  My  God  !  Melania  ...  My  God  !  .  .  .  You  are 
my  angel,  my  star  of  morning  and  noon  and  even- 
ing ...  I  will  never  let  you  go  .  .  .  And  I  have  no 
right  to  hold  you  like  this  and  kiss  your  sweet  lips." 

"  Why  ?  " 

"  Because  I  am  not  fit  to  touch  you.  It  is  Beauty 
and  the  Beast,  the  Dragon  and  the  Virgin,  Riot  and 
Innocence  " 

She  put  her  hand  on  his  mouth.  "  I  am  happy," 
she  said.    "  I  could  not  be  happier." 

"  Oh  !  "  He  groaned  with  a  curious  mixture  of 
accusation  and  joy.  "I  feel  as  if  I  had  no  right 
to  be  so  happy.  I  would  fight  for  you  and  die  for 
you,  my  queen  and  yet  I  fear  I  must  not  live  for 


"  Why  ?  "  She  trembled  and  looked  anxious. 


278  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  I  am  a  mere  soldier  of  fortune  " 

"  But  you  would  not  leave  me  now  ?  " 
"  By  all  the  Saints  !  I  believe  you  are  wooing 
me  !  You  darling  of  my  dreams — and  yet  if  a 
man  with  a  decent  hand  and  of  good  stock  may  not 
marry  where  he  loves,  what  is  the  good  of  war  and 
glory  ?  " 

"  Does  that  mean  you  will  not  leave  me  ?  " 
Her  little  hands  were  stronger  than  a  ship's  cable. 

"  It  does.  And  it  does  not.  Melania  my  pure  in 
heart !  my  pearl  of  woman's  sea  !  Oh  !  let  me  hold 
you  to  me  again,  for  I  feel  like  a  freed  lion,  Samson 
out  of  prison  with  my  hair  grown — love's  hair,  you 
know,  my  beauteous  queen." 

She  smiled,  almost  weeping,  and  felt  he  was 
everything  a  man  should  be. 

He  was  clearly  in  a  mood  of  wild  delight,  and  she 
was  very  pleased  at  it.  He  had  to  get  over  his 
transports  and  then  (still  holding  her,  for  he  could 
not  let  her  go)  he  faced  the  situation. 

By  this  time  she  knelt  beside  him  and  he  stroked 
her  hair. 

"  What  will  Count  Stolemkin  do  ?  "  she  asked. 
Gordon  shook  his  head. 

"  What  he  wants  to  do  is  probably  something 
that  his  black  heart  could  prompt,  but  his  son  will 
trick  him,  and  I.  .  . ."  He  took  her  face  in  bothhands. 

"  WeU  ?  " 

"  I'll  grind  him  to  powder  before  he  shall  come 
between  us." 

She  looked  in  his  eyes  before  speaking  :  the  atti- 
tude was  too  joyous  to  be  disturbed  too  soon.  But 
suppose  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


a79 


"  What  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know.  I  only  suppose."  She  was  drain- 
ing the  glass  of  joy.    "  I  wish  I  had  not  to  go." 

"  It  is  the  only  way."  He  was  serious  with  the 
future  standing  gaunt  before  him.  "  I  wondered 
how  I  could  take  you  from  here,  and  it  is  almost  im- 
possible, for  if  I  attempted  that,  dear  heart,  I  must 
succeed.  Failure  would  be  too  awful.  There  must 
be  no  failure.  You  could  not  be  retaken  by  these 
people.    They — ugh  !  " 

She  shuddered  too. 

"  Stolemkin,"  he  said,  "  will  never  think  he 
must  guard  you.  He  guards  Sofia  because  there  has 
been  an  attempt  to  set  her  free,  and  if  she  escapes,  he 
loses  all.  But  once  he  has  you  he  will  think  he  has 
won  all.  He  will  house  you  well.  You  will  be 
treated  like  a  grand  Duchess :  he  will  boast  of  his 
feat  all  over  the  capital  and — we  will  quietly  leave 
him  to  his  shouting." 

She  put  both  hands  on  his. 

"  Whatever  happens  ....    I  love  you  Louis." 

He  put  an  arm  round  her  gently. 

"  As  long  as  I  am  alive,  Melania,  my  own,  I 
will  deal  with  you  according  to  the  love  I  bear  you. 
Your  enemies  shall  be  mine.  Who  seeks  to  make  you 
unhappy  shall  find  in  me  his  bitterest  foe,  and  may 
I  behave  to  you  as  a  man  of  honour  and  feeling 
and  never  cause  you  a  single  regret." 

Her  eyes  filled. 

"  I  know  now  that  what  you  do  is  best,"  she 
said. 

"  The  Saints  help  me  !  "  he  said ;  "  but  there  is 
overmuch  to  be  done  if  that  bully  Stolemkin  should 


28q  the  stolen  bride 


suspect.  .  .  .    But  this  is  more  than  reward.    It  is 

heavenly  measure  " 

They  kissed  each  other. 

He  4c  ♦  4k 

The  horses  were  changed  and  Melania  Nicholovna 
was  given  an  hour  to  get  ready.  Most  of  her  ward- 
robe had  gone  before  in  the  care  of  Sofia.  So 
preparation  was  an  easy  matter. 

Gordon  strolled  in  the  wood  and  felt  a  blithe  being. 

Melania  dashed  to  the  door  of  her  hut  at  each  alter- 
nate minute  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  him — back  or  front, 
it  did  not  matter  which.  The  gathering  of  garments 
was  a  scrambled  affair. 

Nickoff  and  Pendeff  were  not  allowed — ^by  Glebof 's 
express  mention — to  return  with  the  party.  In  case 
all  went  well  they  would  be  freed  later.  Glebof 
was  a  cautious  person. 

Again  on  the  road  to  the  capital. 

Melania  Nicholovna  was  considered,  for  a  couple 
of  feather  beds  had  been  thrown  at  the  bottom  of 
her  kibitka,  and  Gordon  made  the  journey  appear 
almost  like  roses  all  the  way.  She  was  interested 
in  everything.  The  baying  of  the  wolves,  the  swift 
shuffle  of  a  bear,  even  the  post  houses  seemed  to  her 
interesting  beyond  measure.  It  was  because  he 
was  by  her  side  :  the  old,  old  story.  It  is  not  so 
much  what  we  see  in  life  as  how  we  see  it.  It  is  our 
appreciation  of  things  that  lifts  them  to  the  rank 
of  the  precious. 

When  Gordon  and  his  party  drew  up  at  Nov- 
gorod they  did  not  notice  the  observant  atten- 
tion of  a  man  at  the  post  house.  Perhaps  they 
were  cumbered  about  other  things,  tired  and  not 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


281 


fearing.  They  let  the  man  get  a  good  start,  and  he 
seemed  to  know  the  worth  of  the  information  he 
was  riding  with.  Also  just  outside  St.  Petersburg, 
another  man  (clearly  on  the  look  out)  went  speedily 
forward  without  loss  of  time  and  in  advance  of 
Gordon's  party. 

Melania  Nicholovna  grew  more  nervous  as  the 
destination  grew  nearer.  She  would  have  continued 
the  journey  indefinitely  (so  many  would  like  to  do 
that  with  nice  journeys  !)  As  long  as  Gordon  was  by 
her  side  she  was  happy,  but  the  arrival  in  St.  Peters- 
burg meant  separation  and  the  terrible  risk.  She 
grew  afraid,  and  Gordon  had  to  comfort  her. 

She  travelled  as  Countess  Revel  with  her  atten- 
dants :  Glebof  had  suggested  that. 

One  of  the  party  went  ahead  just  before  they 
entered  the  city  to  warn  Glebof  of  their  approach. 

They  came  in  St.  Petersburg  with  prudence, 
and  the  wide  thoroughfares  and  sparsely-built 
streets  took  Countess  Puroff's  attention,  for  the 
young  will  ever  be  most  attracted  by  the  eye.  The 
ear  gets  its  reign  later.  The  beasts,  you  will  notice, 
get  their  pleasures  neither  from  eye  nor  ear. 

Glebof  received  them  warmly,  for  he  had  been 
over  anxious,  as  a  man  not  fitted  for  perfect  trust 
must  be. 

A  room  was  engaged  at  the  inn  for  Melania 
Nicholovna  and  her  woman. 

Glebof  was  much  relieved  and  looked  grateful  to 
Gordon.  The  other  men  were  dismissed  to  their 
waiting  places  to  be  ready  for  the  journey  back  to 
the  forest  when  Sofia  should  be  free. 

Glebof  had  arranged  to  meet  Stolemkin,  or  to 


282  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


deliver  up  Countess  Puroff  to  him,  in  a  room  at 
some  distance  from  the  inn  where  he  was  staying. 
He  considered  this  merely  prudent. 

He  was  not  a  very  demonstrative  man  as  a  rule, 
but  he  was  clearly  a  little  excited  now  :  perhaps  he 
had  begun  to  distrust  Gordon  when  the  latter  had 
been  out  of  his  sight  for  so  long.  He  said  two  or 
three  times  to  Gordon  as  they  sat  together,  I 
am  so  glad  to  see  you  .  .  .  It  was  the  vain 
repetition  of  a  man  who  would  express  some  pleased 
feeling.  He  walked  the  room  as  he  spoke,  too,  and 
looked  at  Gordon  at  first  with  gratitude  and  then 
almost  sympathetically. 

Gordon  had  separated  from  Melania  Nicholovna 
with  desperation.  He  would  not  say  good-bye, — 
the  very  words  racked  him — ^but  he  was  on  the 
precipice  of  anxiety,  and  his  silence  was  a  thing 
to  be  remarked.  He  looked  at  nothing  and  was 
obviously  meditating. 

Glebof  murmured  :  "  I  am  glad  you  came  so 
well.  .  .  .  I — I  will  remember.  .  .  .  We  will  soon 
free  Sofia  now.  .  . 

He  touched  Gordon.  The  two  men  looked  at 
each  other.  Glebof 's  unspoken  question  was  :  "  You 
are  not  grieving,  surely  ?  "  Gordon's  unspoken 
answer  :  "  I  scheme  when  I  am  in  trouble." 

The  looks  were  sufficient  without  speech.  Pene- 
trating people  save  themselves  and  other  people  a 
weary  waste  of  words  and  time. 

"  Sofia  free,"  said  Glebof  sympathetically,  "  I 
will  help  you." 

Gordon  held  out  his  hand. 

"  I  will  let  Stolemkin  know/'  said  Glebof  after 
a  little  silence. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  283 


Gordon  nodded.  He  could  offer  no  objec- 
tion. 

So  the  message  went  to  Stolemkin  that  Countess 
Puroff  was  in  St.  Petersburg  and  that  the  exchange 
agreed  upon  was  ready  to  be  carried  out.  The 
messenger  waited  to  learn  Count  Stolemkin's 
suggestion  as  to  place  and  time. 

Stolemkin  had  been  anxious,  and  at  sundry 
times  had  looked  at  Sofia  with  bloodshot  eyes.  He 
treated  her  decently  but  kept  a  close  guard  over 
her.  It  was  the  uncertain  prospect  that  made 
Stolemkin  anxious  :  he  could  not  trust  Glebof  and  did 
not  know  what  was  to  be  the  outcome  of  the  bargain. 
He  hoped  (which  was  healthy),  but  had  his  moments 
of  distrust — which  were  uncomfortable. 

He  read  the  message  with  gladness.  Countess 
Puroff  here — .  ...  At  last !  Now  he  could  afford 
to  talk  once  more  of  the  estates  and  the  timber — 
a  pest  on  that !  He  was  really  rather  weary  of  the 
catalogue,  for  Bulavin  had  teased  him  sore.  Bul- 
avin  ? — Ha  !  Ha  !  He  thought  of  his  old  friend  with 
delight.  Bulavin  had  certainly  hoped  to  laugh  at 
him — ^he  had  heard  news,  had  snatched  rumours 
from  somewhere,  but  what  a  fool  he  would  look 
now !  .  .  . 

Stolemkin  rejoiced  in  his  position.  Countess 
Puroff  in  St.  Petersburg  and  ready  to  be  handed 
over  to  him.  This  was  capital  news :  news  of  the 
rosiest  hue.  He  stamped  the  floor  in  his  triumph 
and  then  paused  to  doubt.  The  canker  of  happiness 
— ^peuh  !  This  was  the  doubt :  Having  been  de- 
ceived once,  who  was  to  guarantee  that  he  would  not 
be  deceived  again  ? 


284  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


It  was  a  reasonable  doubt,  and  a  reasonable  doubt 
is  as  wholesome  as  the  cutting  off  of  a  gangrened  toe 
—  and  as  pleasant.  Triumph  retired  to  a  corner : 
joy  disappeared  too.  The  gay  throng  of  Stolemkin's 
revellers  dispersed  at  the  appearance  of  this  grave 
and  respectable  figure  of  Doubt. 

Stolemkin  swore — without  improving  matters. 

He  swore  a  second  time.  He  then  began  to  ask 
himself  the  question  :  What  would  satisfy  him  ? 
Nobody  in  St.  Petersburg  knew  Countess  Puroff, 
who  therefore  could  give  him  assurance  respecting 
her  identity  ?  Then  was  he  to  be  deluded  a  second 
time  ?  Joy  had  turned  to  horror  in  the  twinkling 
of  a  thought ! 

He  sent  back  word  that  he  must  be  convinced 
the  lady  delivered  up  to  him  was  Countess  Puroff. 

Glebof  looked  grave.  Gordon  smiled :  the 
humour  appealed  to  him. 

"  What  can  we  say  ?  "  said  Glebof. 

"  That  we  are  acting  now  as  honourably  as  we 
would  be  treated  :  that  I  give  my  word  the  lady 
to  be  handed  over  to  him  is  the  one  I  was  bringing 
to  him  on  the  first  occasion  and  that  he  can  see  and 
speak  to  her  if  he  will  swear  to  come  alone." 

Glebof  hesitated.  He  did  not  care  about  letting 
Stolemkin  see  the  Countess,  but  considered  afterwards 
it  would  do  no  harm  and  might  convince  Stolemkin, 
who  was  quite  justified  in  acting  with  caution. 

So  the  messenger  returned,  and  Stolemkin  after 
further  consideration  sent  back  word  he  would 
accept  those  assurances  and  visit  Countess  Puroff. 
He  dropped  a  hint  that  if  all  did  not  go  well  the  lady 
in  his  custody  would  not  emerge  happily. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


285 


The  meeting  was  arranged  for  that  same  day 
at  nightfall. 

In  the  meanwhile  Glebof  got  ready  for  a  journey. 
Vasili  was  in  a  fever  of  excitement. 

"  I  will  go  and  see  Melania  Nicholovna,"  said 
Gordon. 

Glebof  consented. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 


"  Do  not,  for  one  repulse,  forego  the  purpose 
That  you  resolved  to  effect.'* 

— The  Tempest. 

MELANIA    NICHOLOVNA  was  paler  now, 
but  showed  delight  when  Gordon  went  to 

her. 

He  told  her  of  Stolemkin's  doubts  and  of  the 
projected  visit. 

And  when  it  is  over  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  When  he  is  satisfied,  you  will  go,"  he  rephed. 

She  looked  at  him  as  if  they  were  to  begin  the 
telling  of  a  tale  too  grave  for  light  introduction. 

"  But  be  ready,  dear,  for  I  shall  come  like  a  thief 
in  the  night.    Maybe  the  very  day  you  go." 

"  I  will  be  ready,"  she  said  in  encouraging  tones. 

"  If  possible,  give  me  a  signal  from  your  room — 
a  kerchief  at  the  window — anything  remarkable  will 
do.    I  will  invent  the  rest." 

She  was  brimming  with  excitement,  and  he  clasped 
her  to  him. 

"  I  will  do  anything  you  wish,"  she  said. 

"  I  will  prepare  for  our  escape  two  ways — either 
by  an  English  boat  or  by  carriage.  But  that  is  for 
after." 

After  a  while  she  said  :  "  I  will  pray." 

286 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  287 


Gordon  returned  to  Glebof  and  then  went  to 
make  preparations  for  his  own  escape  with  Melania 
Nicholovna. 

It  had  been  agreed  between  Stolemkin  and  Glebof 
that  if  the  former  were  satisfied  no  time  should  be 
lost  in  exchanging  Sofia  and  the  Countess.  Stolem- 
kin was  to  come  in  a  carriage  with  Sofia  and  Glebof 
or  his  representative  in  a  carriage  with  the  Countess, 
and  the  exchange  should  take  place  in  the  open. 
Both  sides  swore  to  deal  honourably  and  straight- 
forwardly, without  cunning  or  arriere  pensee  or 
ulterior  design  of  any  kind ;  and  neither  in  respect 
of  what  had  happened  should  pursue  the  other. 

The  terms  were  the  suggestions  of  both,  and  as 
both  were  heartily  desirous  of  an  arrangement,  each 
seemed  willing  to  agree  to  the  other's  demands  with 
little  demur. 

Stolemkin  was  not  afraid.  He  set  out  well-armed 
after  giving  instructions  to  the  guardians  of  Sofia 
and  taking  with  him  one  attendant,  who  followed 
discreetly. 

He  drove  some  way  in  a  carriage  and  then  walked 
to  the  appointed  place. 

The  meeting  was  curious.  Glebof  and  Gordon 
were  together,  and  Stolemkin  came  in  with 
one  hand  on  his  sword  and  one  on  his  pistol.  The 
three  men  bowed.  Glebof  looked  at  the  man  who 
had  ordered  his  father  to  be  flogged  with  feehngs  of 
curiosity  and  hate.  The  feeling  was  instinctive  and 
would  not  be  repressed  even  by  the  importance  of 
other  issues.  He  betrayed  very  little,  for  he  was  an 
undemonstrative  man. 

Gordon  spoke. 


288  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


The  question  is  the  identity  of  Countess  Puroff." 
"  Yes,"  said  Stolemkin. 

"  Well,  I  give  you  my  word  the  lady  you  are  about 
to  see  is  the  lady  who  when  I  first  made  her  acquaint- 
ance presented  herself  to  me  as  Countess  Puroff. 
She  it  is  I  was  conducting  to  St.  Petersburg  when  we 
were  captured,  and  she  will  tell  you  herself  she  is 
Countess  Puroff.    I  would  stake  my  life  on  it." 

Stolemkin  hesitated.  Gordon  rang  true ;  and 
besides,  he  was  trustworthy  in  spite  of  the  big  trick. 

'*  Show  me  the  lady,"  Stolemkin  said. 

"  It  is  agreed,"  interrupted  Glebof,"  that  you  are 
acting  straightforwardly." 

Stolemkin  scowled. 

"  What  I  say  I  will  do  I  will  do,*'  he  repUed 
haughtily. 

Glebof  was  not  disturbed. 

"  It  is  your  intention  to  deliver  up  my  sister  for 
Countess  Puroff  and  not  to  instigate  the  police  or 
anybody  else  to  interfere  with  us  leaving  St.  Peters- 
burg." 

Stolemkin  paused.  His  pride  felt  uncomfortable, 
that  was  all. 

"  It  is.    And  yours  ?  "  he  said  curtly. 

"  I  will  deal  truly  with  you.  I  want  my  sister. 
I  wanted  more.  I  meant  more.  But  now  I  will 
be  honest  and  fair  with  you.  Give  my  sister  her 
freedom  without  trickery, dodge  or  subterf uge,and  you 
shall  have  what  you  most  want — Countess  Puroff." 

Stolemkin  had  enough  insight  to  see  the  truth  in 
the  bandit's  words  and  tone.  He  felt  pleased  now 
he  had  kept  Sofia,  for  the  very  sacrifice  Glebof  seemed 
willing  to  make  heightened  the  prize* 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


289 


"  Let  me  see  her,"  he  said. 
And  if  you  are  satisfied  ?  " 

"  I  will  bring  your  sister  in  a  carriage — or  send  her 
— ^to  the  Admiralty.  You  will  do  the  same  with 
Countess  Purofi.  Please  arrange  that  there  be  no 
delay  in  the  street.  The  ladies  will  change  car- 
riages.'* 

"  That  will  do"  ;  and  Glebof  then  turned  to  Gor- 
don :  "  Will  you  lead  the  way  ?  " 

Gordon  followed  by  Glebof  and  Stolemkin — the 
latter  refused  to  be  sandwiched  between  the  two — 
walked  across  the  yard  to  a  room  at  the  other  side 
where  Melania  Nicholovna  had  been  waiting, 

"  Where  is  Belof  ?  "  said  Glebof. 

Gordon  looked  :  the  man  was  missing. 

"  Perhaps  inside."  He  knocked  at  the  door  of  the 
Countess's  room. 

There  was  no  answer. 

Gordon  went  in.    There  was  nobody  there. 

He  spoke  in  the  hoarse  accent  of  passion. 

"  She's  gone,"  he  said,  and  he  glared  at  Stolem- 
kin. 

Glebof  dashed  in  and  drew  his  pistol.  He  turned 
on  Stolemkin  and  Gordon  like  a  fury. 

Stolemkin  drew  sword  and  pistol,  and  his  face 
was  a  blotched  thing  with  his  cold  staring  blue  eyes 
seeming  to  desire  to  leap  out. 

He  snorted  and  grunted.  It  was  all  incoherent 
at  first. 

"  A  second  time,  eh,"  he  jerked  out  at  last. 
"  You  devil !  "  said  Glebof,  and  he  looked  mur- 
derous if  ever  a  man  did. 
They  were  a  desperate  three.    The  presence  of 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Countess  Puroff  meant  so  much  to  them  all,  and 
none  knew  how  it  had  happened  save  that  the 
woman  they  all  set  a  prize  on  was  gone. 

Gordon,  like  a  knight  robbed  ruffianly  of  hope ; 
Glebof  like  a  prisoner  bereft  of  ransom ;  Stolemkin, 
a  robber  cheated  of  booty. 

They  were  ready  to  mistrust  each  other. 

They  spoke  little  save  for  curses  and  noises  at 
first.  The  rage  in  their  faces  was  hateful.  They 
eyed  each  other  in  turn  and  saw  themselves  eyed 
back.  The  triangular  whirl  of  glance  was  horrible 
and  yet  sobering.  If  each  were  so  furious,  all  were 
cheated. 

Stolemkin  in  big  black  boots,  purple  breeches  and 
a  red  coat  with  fine  embroidery,  his  big  fur  coat 
unbuttoned,  held  out  pistol  and  sword,  but  did 
not  know  whom  to  strike.  He  plainly  considered 
himself  a  victim. 

Glebof  accustomed  to  strike  on  the  instant,  was 
stayed  by  the  unusual  circumstances ;  Gordon, 
heart-rent  (not  "  pocket  "  like  Stolemkin),  felt  like 
shrieking,  cursing,  striking.  But  the  obvious  frank 
fury  on  the  faces  of  the  other  two  calmed  him  and 
let  him  see  with  some  clearness. 

Your  handiwork  ?  "  he  said  to  Stolemkin. 

"Ah!  Ah!"  Stolemkin  felt  deluded.  "You 
rogue  !    You  thief  

"  By  God  !  Be  quiet,  or  I  will  kill  you  where  you 
stand,  you  fool,*'  said  Gordon. 

"  You  kill  me  "  said  Stolemkin. 

"  Be  quiet,"  said  Glebof,  and  all  their  pistols  were 
up  in  the  air.    "  What  does  it  mean  ?  " 

"  I  left  her  here,"  said  Gordon. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Then  who  has  taken  her  ?  "  Glebof  looked  at 
Stolemkin,  who  jeered  in  his  rage. 

"  Can't  you  see,  you  stupid/'  said  Gordon,  "  that 
we  lose  perhaps  more  than  you.  What  do  you 
want  to  grin  like  that  for  ?  What  object  have 
we  in  the  Countess's  disappearance  ?  Haven't  we 
been  at  some  trouble  to  get  her  ?  If  any  of  us  has 
an  advantage  in  her  secret  removal  it  is  you,  Anton 
Gregorovitch — you,  do  you  hear  ?  And  if  you  have 
had  a  hand  in  this  I  will  slit  you  into  pieces." 

Stolemkin  was  quietly  sobered.  He  had  been  too 
furious  to  say  much,  and  now  he  had  sufficient 
coolness  to  see  the  dismay  in  the  faces  of  the  other 
two. 

"  Where  is  she  then  ?  "  he  said  with  a  snarl. 

Gordon  and  Glebof  looked  at  one  another  and 
at  once  began  to  examine  the  room.  They  went 
down  the  stairs,  and  in  the  stables  they  found  Belof , 
who  had  been  guarding  the  door.  His  head  was 
split  open,  but  he  was  alive.  When  he  came  to  he 
told  all  he  knew.  He  had  seen  two  men  approach 
in  friendly  fashion.  Suddenly  he  was  knocked  down 
and  knew  no  more.  He  did  not  recognize  his 
assailants.  His  grief  was  heartrending.  He  blamed 
himself  and  seemed  almost  mad. 

Who  had  done  this  thing  ?  Stolemkin  went  back 
to  see  that  Sofia  was  still  safe  and  gave  Glebof 
twenty-four  hours  to  produce  Countess  Puroff. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  .  .  .  the  rest  was  easy  con- 
jecture. 

But  it  was  not  easy  to  trace  the  Countess.  Gordon, 
Glebof  and  Belof  were  as  keen  in  their  search  as 
desperate  men  could  be,  but  clues  were  not  easy. 


292  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Their  feelings  were  like  those  of  storm-tossed 
mariners  who  see  a  sail  and  buoy  themselves  with 
hope  only  to  see  the  horizon  swallow  up  all  chance 
of  help.  They  were  almost  ready  to  call  to  the  moun- 
tains to  fall  on  them  and  to  the  earth  to  swallow 
them  up.  To  end  hke  this  ?  And  where  was 
Melania  Nicholovna  ?  In  durance  vile  ?  alive  or 
dead  ?  The  phantoms  of  fancy  came  to  torture  the 
heart-stricken  three — nay,  five  at  least,  for  Sofia 
and  Vasili  felt  it  too.  The  men  were  scouring  St. 
Petersburg,  and  the  twenty-four  hours  that  followed 
Stolemkin's  departure  saw  the  hunters  give  them- 
selves no  rest.    And  then  the  news  came. 

Stolemkin  got  it  first.  He  met  his  friend  Bulavin, 
and  the  sight  stirred  suspicion. 

Bulavin  looked  in  a  manner  triumphant.  They 
greeted  each  other  with  feelers,  so  to  speak. 

"  Still  happy  as  ever  ?  "  asked  Bulavin. 

"  Still  and  ever,''  replied  Stolemkin,  longing  to 
swear. 

Bulavin  shook  his  head. 

"  And  we  are  all  likely  to  fall  into  pits,  to  grasp 

the  shadow,  to  mistake  appearances  for  realities  " 

He  shook  his  head  again. 

Stolemkin  wished  he  could  shake  it  for  him. 
You  sound  mournful,  my  friend." 

"  Then  I  behe  myself." 

"  Um  " 

"  Um.  There  is  no  man  in  St.  Petersburg  has  a 
right  to  be  happier  than  I  at  this  moment,  Anton 
Gregorovitch." 

Ah  !  .  .  .  "  Stolemkin  was  sajring  to  himself. 
"  And  what  has  made  the  rogue  happy  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  S93 


"  Let  me  see,"  said  Bulavin,  what  wa^  the 
enumeration  ?  " 

Enumeration  ?  of  what  ?  " 

"  Estates    in    Livonia,    Revel,  Ukraine  and 

Moscow  

Still  at  that  ?  "  snapped  Stolemkin. 
Still — my  friend,  I  am  only  just  at  it.  Also 
jewels  to  dazzle  Europe,  wood  to  build  the  world's 
ships,  fish  to  feed  " 

Stolemkin  waved  his  hand  impatiently. 

"  The  fish  stink.  I  am  tired  of  the  tale.  Are  you 
still  jealous  ?  " 

"  The  fish  stink,"  repeated  Bulavin  with  a  smile. 

Not  the  Countess's  ?  not  those  belonging  to  Melania 
Nicholovna,  Countess  Puroff.  They  are  alive  and 
wriggling.  There  is  caviare  for  all  the  courts — 
that  is  if  your  estimate  is  correct.  And  as  for  being 
jealous,  now  why  ?  Jealous,  when  there  is  offered 
to  you,  Frolof  and  me  such  a  glorious  chance.  We 
are  the  chosen  three,  Anton  Gregorovitch,  and  the 
winner — ^peuh  !  Estates,  fish,  wood,  jewels,  serfs — 
peuh  !    And  I  jealous  of  you  now  ?  " 

"  You  look  roguish  to-day,  Nicholas  Dimitrivitch/' 
said  Stolemkin,  feeling  very  much  at  sea  with 
Bulavin's  spray  scattering  sentences. 

"  I  feel  it.  I  feel  hke  Jacob  when  he  got  his 
bride — after  seven  years,  was  it  ?  or  fourteen  ?  I  am 
not  good  at  these  things  :  but  to  win  at  last — 
well,  it  must  be  glorious  eh,  Anton  ?  " 

Stolemkin  thought  it  must,  but  he  looked  as  if 
he  were  far  from  thinking  of  such  a  pleasant  thing 
at  that  moment. 

**  And  that  was  a  gorgeous  wedding  of  yours. 


294 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


Vasili  and  his  bride  .  .  .  Where  is  the  lady 
now  ?  " 

"  What  the  devil  do  you  mean  ?  "  said  Stolemkin 
with  a  face  with  plenty  of  blood  in  it.  "  What  is  it 
you  are  hinting  at  and  smirking  about  and  dancing 
like  a  damn  cat  for  ?  " 

Bulavin  was  not  disturbed. 

"  Hinting  at/'  he  said.      Haven't  you  found 
out  your  mistake,  Anton  Gregorovitch  ?  " 
"  What  mistake  ?  " 

"  The  mistaken  bride  ;  or,  Good  Lord  !  what  is  the 
matter  with  my  daughter-in-law !  The  deluded 
parent  ;  or,  By  Heaven  !  I  will  make  somebody 
smart  for  this.  Stinking  fish ;  or  Who  the  devil 
landed  the  wrong  pike  !  Mistake  .  .  .  You  ask  me 
what  mistake  ?  " 

Stolemkin  looked  as  if  he  would  like  to  handle 
Bulavin  roughly.  He  came  a  step  nearer  and  glared 
furiously.  Bulavin,  conscious  of  victory,  would 
not  haul  down  the  flag. 

"  A  plague  on  your  jesting  tongue  !  In  the  name 
of  the  saints  !  what  do  you  want  to  say  ?  "  Stolemkin 
said. 

"  The  fact  is,"  replied  Bulavin,  "  that  what  I  have 
to  say  won't  be  said  at  once.  It  takes  time.  You 
could  not  tell  the  virtues  of  your  daughter-in-law 
nor  the  list  of  her  possessions  in  a  word.  It  isn't 
possible.  But  now  that  St.  Petersburg  is  likely  to 
know,  eh.  Now  that  you  have  discovered  that  the 
fish  stink  " 

"  To  Hell  with  them." 

"  A  very  good  place  too  for  rotten  fish — they 
go  well  with  sour  grapes,  eh  ?    But  what  will  St. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  295 


Petersburg  say  ?  Some  of  them  may  say  they  do 
not  hke  to  be  invited  to  the  wedding  of  a  peasant's 

daughter  " 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  The  wife  of  your  son  VasiH  ...  It  was  clever, 
Anton  Gregorovitch,  but  not  clever  enough.  Passing 
her  off  as  Countess  Puroff  before  the  Court  " 

"  Be  silent !  Do  you  think  I  knew  ?  Do  you 
think  I  did  it  knowingly  ?  " 

"  The  Court  may  say  so,  my  friend.  You  will 
have  to  prove  that  you  did  not  know  the  peasant 
girl  was  Countess  Puroff." 

"  You  have  had  your  finger  in  the  pie,  haven't 
you  ?  Well,  I  knew  nothing.  You  would  have  been 
taken  in  as  I  was." 

"  But  I  was  not  taken  in,  and  I  did  not  take  in  my 
friends.  Nobody  likes  being  fooled,  Anton  Gregoro- 
vitch— the  daughter  of  a  peasant  passed  off  as 
Countess  Puroff  " 

"  The  tale  is  not  all  told  yet." 

"  But  it  only  wants  the  teUing." 

"  You  don't  know  all.  There  are  things  to 
happen  yet." 

"  Yes.    I  can  tell  you  one." 

"  What  is  it  ?  " 

"  The  marriage  of  Countess  Puroff — the  real 
Countess  Puroff,  not  a  sham." 
"  Yes,  yes,  but  to  whom  ?  " 
Bulavin  paused. 

"  There  is  no  reason,"  he  said,  "  why  you  should 
not  know.  Melania  Nicholovna  is  going  to  marry 
my  son." 

"  A  Ue  ! 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


"  Sir !  " 

They  faced  each  other  glaringly.  A  pair  of  dogs 
straining  at  the  leash  of  decency.  Bnlavin  was  the 
cooler.  He  looked  like  a  man  who  saw  his  foe 
beaten  :  his  head  was  high. 

"  Melania  Nicholovna,  Countess  Puroff,  will  marry 
my  son,"  he  said  quietly,  with  annoying  precision. 

Stolemkin  grasped  the  truth. 

"  You  have  her  ?  " 

A  pause.    Bulavin  was  making  the  most  of  his 
victory. 
"  I  have." 

"  Then  you  robbed.  You  stole  her  like  a  bandit. 
My  God  !  " 

"  Tut !  tut !  And  you  would  buy  her  from  a 
bandit.  You  would  let  the  child  of  a  peasant  be 
taken  for  a  Countess  by  all  the  Court.  You  would 
truck  and  bargain  and  keep  your  son's  wife  a  prisoner 
so  that  you  might  get  hold  of  the  Countess,  and 
because  I  beat  you  " 

"  Beat  me  ?  "  Stolemkin  was  white  with  rage. 

"  Yes,  beat  you,  Anton  Gregorovitch." 

"  Be  damned  to  your  beating.    Be  "  and  then 

he  stopped.  He  felt  somehow  a  beaten  man.  But 
he  was  too  heavy  and  thick  to  collapse  utterly.  He 
heard  the  jibes  and  jeers,  the  wit  and  sneers  and  the 
lampoons  that  would  soon  be  thick  as  the  mud  in  the 
streets.  He  wondered  for  a  moment  if  he  could 
snatch  Melania  Nicholovna  from  the  keeping  of 
Bulavin  and  turn  the  laugh.  But  quickly  came  the 
flash  of  memory  :  He  has  got  her  first  and  therefore 
has  won."  \ 

Stolemkin  was  beaten.    But  he  was  not  a  man 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  297 


to  turn  round  and  congratulate  a  successful  rival  at 
any  time  :  and  at  this  time  he  felt  more  Hke  rending 
him. 

Bulavin  did  not  make  the  situation  easier.  While 
Stolemkin  scowled  and  looked  possessed  of  ten  devils, 
he  smiled  as  if  on  nodding  terms  with  the 
god  of  victory.  The  laurel  was  in  his  hand  and  he 
held  it  out  ostentatiously.    He  muttered — 

"  You  must  come  to  the  wedding.    We  " 

Stolemkin  turned  on  his  heel. 

"  There  is  no  wedding  yet,"  he  said. 

Bulavin  watched  him  go  and  smiled. 

"  He  takes  his  beating  badly,"  he  said  comfortingly 
to  himself. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 


"...  Weep  I  cannot : 
But  my  heart  bleeds." 

— Winter^ s  Tale. 

GLEBOF,  Gordon,  Belof  and  Vasili  had  visages 
that  could  not  be  called  beautiful.  Rage  and 
unrest  were  there  and  despair  was  getting  the  upper 
hand  of  hope  :  and  that  takes  the  light  from  a 
man's  face. 

Gordon  had  suggested  Bulavin  as  a  likely  abductor 
and  had  done  his  best  to  spy  out  the  land  in  that 
direction.  It  was  when  the  four  had  met  again 
after  a  fruitless  search  that  Vasili  was  persuaded 
by  Gordon  (to  speak  truly  he  needed  very  little 
persuasion)  to  call  on  Bulavin. 

Bulavin's  reception  of  Vasili  can  be  imagined. 
It  was  the  overflowing  hospitality  of  the  spider  that 
has  gorged.  Bulavin's  talk  was  not  direct :  he  flipped 
at  subjects  and  made  suggestions.  His  questions 
were  irony  indelicate.  He  thought  at  first  that 
Stolemkin  had  sent  his  son,  but  soon  found  out  his 
mistake.  At  last  he  told  him  the  truth.  Vasili 
asked  to  see  the  Countess. 

Bulavin  thought  the  meeting  would  be  ironic 
and  a  little  triumphant,  somewhat  Roman.  He 
led  Vasih  to  the  Countess  and  introduced  them. 

298 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  299 


Vasili  said  :  "  It  has  been  a  very  exciting  time." 
"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  and  tell  Louis  Alexandrovitch 
that  I  was  taken  by  force,  will  you  ?  " 
Bulavin  smiled. 

"  Yes,  you  can  tell  him,"  he  said.  "  Men,  dear 
lady,"  he  added,  turning  to  the  Countess,  "  are 
flying  at  each  other's  throats  on  your  account. 
You  are  another  Helen.  But  Troy  is  upset.  And 
Vasili  Antonovitch  is  married — you  know  that  ?" 

"  I  do." 

"  And  the  lady  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  know  her  too." 

"  It  is  better  so.    Count  Stolemkin  does  not  feel 

like  an  archangel :  but  it  is  better  so." 
Melania  Nicholovna  went  to  Vasili — 
"  Tell  Louis  Alexandrovitch  where  I  am  and 

what  has  happened.    This  man  says  I  must  marry 

his  son  :  but  I  won't  " 

Chut !  "  said  Bulavin.    "  It  is  the  order  of  the 

Regent.    You  must  be  careful.    Your  head  is  too 

pretty  to  fall  off  yet.    And  Louis  Alexandrovitch 

can  find  a  wife  elsewhere — perhaps  amongst  the 

bandits." 

Then  he  showed  Vasili  out  and  locked  Melania  up. 

Vasili  went  out  with  despair  chastened  a  little 
and  hope  returning.  He  was  not  altogether  happy, 
for  his  lot  was  most  unpromising  :  but  hope  smiles 
at  every  beam  of  good  fortune. 

At  least,  they  knew  where  Melania  Nicholovna  was. 
Gordon,  Glebof  and  Vasili  were  together  discussing 
the  situation  and  the  gloom  grew  blacker  and 
blacker. 

In  anybody  else's  hands  a  ransom  could  have 


300  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


been  paid  ;  but  Bulavin  wanted  no  ransom.  Gordon 
was  most  satisfied,  for,  in  his  eyes,  all  places  for  her 
were  ill  unless  she  were  by  his  side.  She  must  be 
snatched  from  Bulavin  as  she  was  to  be  taken  from 
Stolemkin.  Knowing  where  she  was,  Gordon  began 
to  dream  of  schemes.  Hope  was  burning  within 
him. 

But  Vasili  and  Glebof  were  almost  lampless. 
They  saw  the  way  very  dark  in  front.  What  would 
Stolemkin  do  ?  He  was  to  give  up  Sofia  when  he 
got  Melania,  and  now  that  he  had  not  got  Melania 
he  would  certainly  refuse  to  give  up  Sofia. 

Gordon  suggested  they  should  attempt  to  rescue 
the  Countess  and  Sofia — Melania  first.  Glebof  said 
curtly,  "  Sofia  first." 

Rescue  was  their  one  hope  and  they  dwelt  long 
over  the  details.  They  were  fearless  and  desperate 
and  their  suggestions  were  not  lacking  in  daring. 
But  as  failure  would  probably  be  fatal  they  pre- 
ferred to  be  slow  and  sure  rather  than  risk  all  on  a 
dash,  which  might  succeed  in  getting  Sofia  and 
Melania  out  of  the  respective  prisons  but  might  fail 
to  carry  them  safely  out  of  the  capital. 

Bulavin  might  be  taken  by  surprise,  they  argued, 
but  Stolemkin  would  not. 

Money  was  fortunately  of  little  concern  with 
Glebof,  who  had  so  many  purses  of  other  people  to  dip 
into,  and  heavy  bribery  of  the  servants  of  both 
establishments  were  agreed  upon. 

Vasili's  knowledge  of  his  father's  staff  was  reckoned 
useful.  The  details  of  the  plan  were  arranged  with 
scrupulous  care  :  escape  was  to  be  swift  and  seemed 
easy.    Hope  again  came  into  the  faces  of  Glebof 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  301 


and  Vasili  as  well  as  in  Gordon's.  They  ate  once 
more  and  drank  and  then  dispersed  on  their  several 
errands.    But  Stolemkin  upset  them  all. 

He  went  from  Bulavin  a  beaten  man.  His  pride 
was  a  thing  to  be  cherished,  and  he  had  boasted  as 
well  as  any  man  in  liquor  could  do.  What  a 
mouthful  he  had  made  of  the  "  Estates  in  Livonia, 
Revel/'  et  cetera.  He  cursed  himself  and  squirmed 
now. 

And  the  Court  would  jeer !  They  would  never 
let  him  forget  he  had  been  duped  by  a  peasant's 
daughter.  Bulavin  would  spread  the  tale  all  over 
St.  Petersburg.  Bulavin  would  now  see  in  the  pos- 
session of  his  family  those  estates  in — ach  ! 

How  he  cursed  Bulavin  !  Bulavin,  who  had  been 
beaten ;  Bulavin  who  would  have  had  to  eat  the  dust 

of  defeat  if  only  those  villains  had  not  interfered  

That  put  his  thoughts  on  Sofia.  He  would  make 
her  pay.  She  would  expiate.  She  should  suffer. 
No  more  would  she  hold  her  head  high  and  take 
a  pride  in  her  devilry.  Yes,  she  should  suffer. 
There  was  some  satisfaction  in  the  fact  that  he  held 
her  prisoner.  Well,  he  would  hand  her  over  to  the 
police.  They  would  flog  her  and  cut  out  her  tongue 
and  send  her  to  Siberia.  Serve  her  right  too, 
he  gloated.  She  deserves  it.  He  wished  he  could 
give  the  whole  brood  of  them  into  the  hands  of 
the  executioner.  He  felt  like  blood  :  he  was  think- 
ing in  hecatombs  almost. 

Ideas  breed  ideas  almost  as  prolifically  as  the 
urstdiest  rodent  begets  its  young.  Hand  the  whole 
brood  over.  .  .  .  Why  not  ?  He  began  to  chuckle 
over  the  idea  and  gloat  over  the  prisoners  before 


302 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


they  were  taken.  Glebof  the  brother  and  Gordon 
— why  not  ?  They  should  squirm  too.  They 
should  be  flogged  and  sent  Siberiawards  so  that 
they  should  trouble  honest  men  no  longer.  Yes, 
'the  woman,  Gordon,  and  Glebof.  They  were  all 
there  waiting  for  the  police.  After  all,  one  got  some 
satisfaction  from  the  flaying  of  one's  enemies. 

If  only  Bulavin  could  be  included  in  the  batch.  He 
had  got  the  Countess. 

Stolemkin  was  striding  the  floor  like  a  being  tre- 
mendous and  fearful.  He  stopped.  Rage  was 
not  in  his  face.  He  was  vindictive  now  with 
a  grin.  He  looked  like  a  biter  rather  than  one  to 
give  blows.  He  had  another  idea — conceived  in 
rage  and  begotten  in  spite. 

Yes — yes — yes.  He  was  clearly  rejoicing  over 
this  idea.  It  was  something  good  beyond  the 
usual :  it  was  seemingly  better  than  having  Gordon 
and  Glebof  and  Sofia  whipped  in  St.  Petersburg 
and  banished  to  Siberia. 

It  was  to  include  Melania  Nicholovna  ! 

"  Why  not  ?  "  he  was  saying  to  himself.  "  She  was 
one  of  the  plotters.  She  is  as  thick  in  the  business 
as  any  of  the  others.  She  told  all,  lent  her  clothes 
and  her  maid — the  vixen  !  the  little  rogue  !  the 
—the  " 

His  lips  were  dry  with  excitement  and  he  licked 
them  with  relish.  He  sat  down  for  a  moment  and 
murmured  "  Bulavin/'  He  considered  his  ideas 
so  full  of  richness  that  he  could  scarce  enjoy  them 
at  once.  They  dazzled  him.  "  Bulavin,''  he 
whispered  again,  and  then  he  actually  chuckled. 

"  Got  him.    Got  the  sly  devil !    Oh  !    He  shall 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  303 


rage  too  !    He  would  laugh  at  me.  .  .  .    He  would 

cackle  of  her  estates  eh,  and  jewels  (He  boggled 

at  the  word  "fish"  somehow). 

He  called  for  his  carriage.  He  was  in  a  wild  rag- 
ing delight  and  a  wild  dehghtful  rage.  He  could 
knock  you  down  and  yet  laugh  with  you. 

He  really  considered  he  was  very  very  clever. 

And  certainly  he  was  preparing  a  very  pretty 
pit  for  a  few  people  against  whom  he  felt  he  had  a 
grudge. 

He  went  direct  to  Ostermann  who  was  now  High 
Admiral  and  had  placed  the  villa  at  Peterof  at  the 
disposal  of  Vasili  and  his  bride.  Stolemkin  was 
one  of  Ostermann's  close  followers  and  had  been 
rewarded  in  consequence,  for  Ostermann  had 
thriven. 

Since  the  day  when  Gordon  had  been  asked  by 
Stolemkin  to  bring  Countess  Puroff  to  St.  Petersburg 
there  had  been  great  changes  in  the  government. 

The  Empress — ^Anna  Ivanovna — died  in  1749, 
and  Biren,  her  lover,  was  named  Regent.  But  his 
rule  was  unpopular  and  short.  He  was  surprised 
in  his  bed,  taken  prisoner,  and  then  packed  off  to 
Siberia,  and  Anna  Leopoldovna  became  Regent  in  his 
place.  She  was  a  foolish  woman,  and  being  too  idle 
to  dress  herself  would  lie  for  days  on  a  couch. 

When  rulers  forget  their  duties  the  people  re- 
member their  rights. 

Miinnich,  who  had  arrested  Biren,  was  nov/  made 
Prime  Minister,  and  Ostermann,  who  had  been  Vice- 
Chancellor,  became  High  Admiral. 

It  was  to  the  latter,  a  scheming  man  of  talent, 
that  Stolemkin  now  went.    He  had  not  to  wait  long 


304  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


to  be  received,  and  then  he  told  his  story.  He  told 
it  with  art.  His  object  was  to  tell  it  in  such  a  way 
that  Count  Ostermann  would  feel  that  not  only  had 
Stolemkin  been  cruelly  deluded,  but  that  the  Court 
had — the  Empress,  he,  Ostermann,  and  all  those 
who  had  been  present  at  the  wedding. 
He  succeeded. 

"  They  have  tried  to  make  fools  of  us  all — and 
did  not  care  who  we  were,"  Stolemkin  ended  with. 
Ostermann  was  annoyed. 
"  And  they  are  in  St.  Petersburg  ?  " 
"  Yes." 

"  Where  is  Countess  Puroff  ?  " 

'*  Bulavin  took  her.  What  is  the  trick  she  played 
on  the  Court  to  the  advantage  he  hopes  to 
get?" 

But  will  not  get,"  said  Ostermann  curtly. 

Stolemkin  was  beginning  to  rejoice.  He  told 
where  Gordon  and  Glebof  and  Sofia  and  the  Countess 
might  be  found  and  Ostermann  took  notes. 

"  They  may  try  to  bolt  now  they  see  their  plot 
has  not  altogether  succeeded.  But  I  have  the 
woman,"  said  Stolemkin. 

"  I  shall  soon  have  them  all,"  repHed  Ostermann, 
and  then  he  spoke  of  other  matters — of  the  Princess 
Elizabeth  and  his  suspicions  concerning  her.  He 
asked  Stolemkin  to  find  out  all  he  could  about  her — 
if  she  were  ambitious  and  seemed  desirous  of  aiming 
at  the  throne. 

Stolemkin  returned  with  feelings  of  joy  animating 
his  big  bosom  and  his  fat  face.  His  principal  satis- 
faction was  his  fancy  concerning  Bulavin.  He  had  a 
desire  to  call  on  his  old  and  trusty  friend  so  that  he 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


305 


might  be  there  when  the  pohce  came  and  took  away 
— the  estates  in  Livonia,  Revel  and  Moscow,  the 

jewels  and  the  wood,  the — er  serfs  

He  saw  that  Sofia  was  safe  and  could  not  resist 
going  in. 

"  Have  you  all  that  you  desire  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Save  liberty." 

"  I  shall  soon  let  you  go." 

Her  eyes  brightened. 

"  Has  she  been  found  ?  "    She  had  been  told  of 
the  Countess's  disappearance. 
-  Y— yes." 

She  looked  very  glad  without  being  at  all  demon- 
strative. 
"  When  ?  "  she  asked. 
"  When  what  ?  " 

"  When  will  they  come  for  me  ?  " 

"  Soon — very  soon  I  think — and  hope." 

She  looked  at  him  keenly,  for  she  did  not  like  the 
tone.  It  was  not  genial  and  there  was  gall  in  it, 
and  she  detected  the  sourness  at  once. 

"  You  look  like  the  devil,"  she  said  quietly. 
And  you  will  soon  feel  Hke  it.  You  she  cat," 
he  retorted  losing  his  temper.  "  You  will  soon  go 
from  here.  They  are  coming  for  you — ^but  do  you 
know  who  they  are  ?  The  police,  my  vixen.  You 
sorry  wench,  you  will  soon  have  time  to  think  over 
your  villainy.  And  your  brother  too.  The  police 
will  soon  have  him ;  and  then  it  will  be  whack  * 

whack  !  00          My  God  !    Your  backs  will  be  it 

ribbons,  do  you  hear  ?    You  " 

"  Go  out,"  she  said  very  quietly,  for  she  was  white 

I  wouldn't  talk  to  a  bear  like  that."    She  spat  on 

u 


3o6  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


the  floor  expressively  and  then  waved  her  hand 
with  the  contempt  of  one  who  can  face  death. 

He  went  out  with  a  laugh,  forced  for  the  occasion. 
Then  he  thought  of  the  Princess  Elizabeth. 

When  the  police  came  Sofia  saw  struggling  was 
helpless  and  went  easily. 

Bulavin  shrieked  like  a  wounded  wolf  when  the 
police  called  on  him.  He  refused  at  first  to  let  the 
Countess  go,  but  the  order  was  imperative.  Oster- 
mann  had  power.  So  he  swore  all  would  be  well  and 
patted  Melania  Nicholovna  on  the  back  as  she  went 
out  weeping.  He  imagined  that  an  interview  with 
Miinnich  or  Ostermann  would  set  all  right.  The 
arrest  of  Glebof  was  a  different  matter.  He  fought 
like  a  lion.  To  him,  of  course,  liberty  was  life. 
His  agility  and  strength  were  amazing.  Poor 
Belof  with  him  was  knocked  down  in  the  struggle 
and  badly  wounded.  Glebof  managed  to  get  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs,  and  there  he  played  his  sword  hke 
a  hero.  But  the  police  were  not  heroes  and  would 
not  go  to  him.  Two  of  their  number  were  lying 
on  the  ground  and  the  others  produced  muskets. 
Glebof,  with  pistol  and  sword,  held  the  stairs,  but 
his  object  was  escape,  and  that  was  certainly  more 
difiicult  than  remaining  where  he  was. 

The  police  saw  it  and  invited  him  to  surrender. 
He  glared  at  them  and  schemed  to  flee.  But  a 
man  on  the  roof  opened  a  trapdoor  and  hit  him  on 
the  head  with  a  stone.  One  of  his  men  was  taken 
with  him,  but  Vasili,  hearing  of  the  arrest,  warned 
Gordon,  who  kept  in  hiding  and  was  not  found. 

These  two  sat  together  at  night  with  their  heads 
unequal  to  the  task  their  hearts  demanded. 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


307 


Sofia  was  calling  to  Vasili.  (He  had  been  to  his 
father's  house  and  with  taunts  and  curses  had  learnt 
the  truth.) 

Melania  Nicholovna  was  calling  to  Gordon,  and 
he  sat  by  the  Neva  and  hid. 

They  were  both  still,  tired,  and  their  hearts  at 
sunset.  The  frost  outside  froze  their  souls.  The 
world  was  very  hard. 

Melania  and  Sofia  taken  prisoners.  .  .  .  This 
was  not  light  nor  negligible.  It  was  one  thing  to 
snatch  a  prisoner  from  a  private  house  :  it  was 
another  to  effect  an  escape  from  the  fortress  of 
St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.  And  very  few  got  off  lightly 
even  .  .  . 

Yet  Gordon  was  only  hard  hit  (very  hard,  all  the 
same) :  he  was  not  hopeless.  All  the  time  he  won- 
dered what  to  do.  It  is  the  salvation  of  the  soul, 
this  gazing  into  activity.  What  to  do  .  .  .  other- 
wise he  was  a  mere  copy  of  dejection. 

Vasili  was  limp.  He  had  wept  and  raved  at  first, 
for  his  father  had  spared  him  no  details.  The 
elder  Stolemkin  gave  other  people  credit  for  the  pos- 
session of  feelings  when  he  wanted  to  wound  them. 
He  really  hoped  then  that  their  feelings  were  deep. 
So  he  pictured  Sofia's  fate  to  Vasili  with  reahstic 
brutality.  No  wonder  Vasili  howled,  and  one  for- 
gives him  struggling  with  his  parent.  He  was 
thrown  out  with  curses.  Now  he  was  weary.  He 
saw  misery  and  darkness  in  front  of  him. 

"  What  wiU  happen  ?  "  he  said  plaintively,  feeling 
only  too  well  that  no  sun  could  shine  into  his  dark 
cave. 

Gordon  was  staring  through  the  wall,  across  the 


308  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


river,  through  prison  walls,  to  Melania  Nicholovna, 
a  frail  slip  of  a  girl  who  needed  a  man.  He  had 
a  heart  of  steel. 

"  What  is  not  prevented,"  he  said* 

Vasili  looked  a  little  surprised. 

"  What — have  you  any  hope  ?  " 

"  I  always  hope — ^but  I  don't  bother  about  that,'* 

"  But  what  can  we  do  ?    I  can  think  of  nothing. 

And  Sofia  "    He  caught  the  wrench  at  his 

throat.    Poor  Vasili ! 

Gordon  looked  up. 

"  Be  a  man,  Vasili,''  he  said,  taking  him  by  the  arm. 
You  have  surprised  me  before ;  don't  disappoint 
me  now." 

Vasili's  timid,  affectionate  brown  eyes  looked 
appealingly  at  Gordon.  To  him  the  dawn  prom- 
ised no  reward  :  he  had  merely  the  hope  of  youth — 
that  the  worst  would  be  averted  somehow. 

Gordon,  six  feet  two  of  him,  bent  forward  to 
resolution  and  saw  super-Herculean  tasks  for  one 
who,  after  all,  was  not  even  Hercules. 

A  man  can't  charge  a  prison.  What  is  the  good  of 
rushing  singly  at  a  regiment  ?    Sense  must  be  served. 

Thinking  of  ways  and  means  kept  his  spirit  alive, 
his  lamp  burning.  But  when  he  saw  himself  in- 
variably in  a  cul-de-sac  with  grinning  Stolemkins 
and  a  horde  of  police,  he  began  to  think  of  life  as  full 
of  trouble  and  not  an  over  joyous  thing. 

He  began  to  think  of  Melania  Nicholovna  again 
and  was  shaken.  Those  eyes  that  came  from  the 
sea  and  told  of  deep  wonders :  that  sunset-tinted 
hair  that  promised  such  golden  dreams  and  the 
clinging  ways — just  suited  to  a  big  man  like  Gordon, 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


who  was  a  born  protector — what  was  to  be  her  fate  ? 
In  prison  she  was  hostage  to  savagery. 

Something  would  be  done  surely.  It  might  be 
futile,  but  something  must  happen.  .  .  .  Gordon 
asked  himself  what  would  really  be  done  to  the 
two  women.  .  .  .  Sofia  would  certainly  smart : 
she  could  not  escape.  The  rights  of  peasants  in- 
cluded floggings  in  those  days.  It  was  a  thing  not  to 
be  omitted.  But  a  Countess  .  .  .  They  had  it  too,  for 
Peter  the  Great  boxed  ears  like  a  virago  and  did  not 
care  whose  they  were.  Besides  autocracy  is  always 
served  by  whips  :  their  cracking  is  the  music  of  the 
absolute.  Yes,  Melania  Nicholovna  would  not  be 
spared  any  more  than  Sofia.  .  .  . 

Gordon  shuddered. 

Yet  Gordon  hid.  While  she  languished  he  was 
forced  to  hide.  Autocracy,  tyranny,  cruelty  flour- 
ished. Tricks  abounded  but  the  strong  won. 
Mercy  was  the  thinnest  of  shadows  and  fed  on 
crumbs.  The  strong  deemed  it  expedient  to  show 
their  strength :  they  had  not  learnt  the  great 
lesson  that  it  is  just  the  strong  who  can  afford  to  be 
weak. 

The  Neva  was  flowing  slowly  under  a  frost-keen 
air.  The  streets  were  almost  deserted.  Gordon 
could  rest  no  longer  in  doors  and  walked  along  by 
the  Admiralty  buildings,  looked  up  at  the  sky, 
where  the  clouds  promised  and  broke  their  promises 
like  weak  princes  and  strong  women. 

Nothing  gave  hope  :  the  strong  seemed  pitiless. 
It  was  force  that  built  this  great  new  city :  what 
could  one  man,  hunted  and  forced  to  hide,  do  against 
all  the  power  of  law  and  government  ?    And  yet 


3IO  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


something  must  be  done.  But  what  ?  Oh !  for 
a  plan ! 

He  sighed  for  the  miraculous  and  felt  it  a  waste  of 
breath. 

He  leaned  over  the  wall  and  watched  the  river 
flowing  by,  with  the  ships  made  in  cunning  and 
foolish  guise  by  the  genius  of  Peter. 

On  the  river  rolled,  staying  neither  for  sympathy 
nor  comfort,  cold  and  tremendous.  It  seemed 
symbolic. 

What  was  the  end  to  be  ?  The  end  .  .  .  the  very 
word  seemed  pregnant  with  blight.  Hope  was 
dying. 

Gordon  turned  round  and  saw  a  man  watching 
him.  He  put  his  hand  on  his  pistol.  The  man 
advanced  a  step.  Gordon  was  ready  for  a  fight, 
almost  eager. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  What  do  you  want  ?  "  he  said. 
"  Speak  quickly." 

The  other  man  advanced. 

"  Gordon." 

"  Lestocq  !  " 

"  Yes.   What  do  you  do  here  ? 
"  I  am  cursing  fate." 

"  Pooh  !  "  Lestocq  took  Gordon's  arm.  "  Fate 
is  the  prison  of  the  weak  and  the  mortar  of  the 
strong.  Come  with  me,  old  friend.  I  will  give  you 
something  to  do  that  will  knock  Fate  off  his  pedestal 
— off  his  throne.   I  was  looking  for  a  man." 

I  wonder  if  you  can  help  me  ?  "  said  Gordon, 
snatching  at  the  man  and  the  tone.      I  fear  not." 

"  Help  you — I'll  give  you  something  to  do ; 
and  if  you  succeed  you  can  ask  for  what  you  want 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


311 


and  you  shall  have  it.  The  wish  is  at  your  feet. 
We  are  going  to  make  history  this  night.  Come 

with  me  " 

"  You  are  not  deluding  me  ?  "  said  Gordon, 
surprised  at  Lestocq's  language.  "  I  have  things 
to  do  " 

*'  If  I  fail  I  shall  die  the  death,"  said  Lestocq, 
"  but  if  I  succeed,  if  we  succeed — come  along,  my 
friend." 

"  Some  one  dear  to  me  is  in  prison — can  I  get  her 
out  ?  "  asked  Gordon  with  heart  beating  fast. 
"  Can  I  ask  that  ?     Can  I  secure  that." 

"  Get  her  out — marry  her,  and  fling  her  enemies 
to  the  wolves  if  you  want.    Yes,  all  that  and  more." 

"  Don't  jest.    Don't  talk  lightly." 

"  My  friend,  I  am  the  most  serious  man  in  St. 
Petersburg  to-night.  I  am  playing  for  the  great 
stakes  of  the  great." 

"  I  don't  understand  you." 

"  Come  with  me  :  you  will,"  said  Lestocq. 

Gordon,  hope  again'  in  his  bosom  and  fire  in  his 
veins,  went  gladly. 

It  was  dark  and  cold,  but  the  darkness  must 
give  way  to  the  morning. 


CHAPTER  XXV 


She  was  his  life. 
The  ocean  to  the  river  of  his  thoughts. 
Which  terminated  all." 

— Byron. 

LESTOCQ  shut  the  door. 
"  Now,  my  friend,  who   speaks  first  ? 
he  said.    "  Only  I  have  httle  time  to  lose." 

"  What  is  your  plan  ?  "  replied  Gordon.  I  only 
want  to  rescue  a  lamb  from  the  wolves — my  lamb." 

He  found  he  had  to  tell  his  tale,  so  told  it  suc- 
cinctly. 

Lestocq  hstened  without  interrupting  and,  when 
Gordon  had  finished,  said — 

"  You  shall  be  with  us.  We  are  to  move  moun- 
tains to-night,  if  we  can  move  Princess  Elizabeth." 

Gordon  looked  astonished.  He  had  met  the  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  the  Great  before,  and  sniffed  great 
designs. 

"  A  revolution  ?  "  he  said. 

"  A  new  Empress,"  said  Lestocq.  Now  do  you 
see  your  chance  ?  " 

Gordon  did. 

"  The  stars  are  shining  for  me,"  he  said.  "  I 
would  do  Princess  Elizabeth  a  turn  at  any  time  and 
feel  the  honour  of  it.    But  when  I  know  that  the 

312 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


313 


other  gang  would  torture  Melania  Nicholovna  and 
that  Princess  Ehzabeth  would  free  her — the  good 
God  sent  you  to  me  this  night,  Lestocq.  Take  me  : 
give  my  sword  or  pistol  a  chance.  What  is  it  you 
want  ?  Lord  !  I  feel  like  Hagar  in  the  desert : 
the  water  is  gushing/' 

Lestocq  took  him  by  the  hand. 

"  You  shall  drive  her  carriage,"  he  said.  "  You 
shall  arrest  Ostermann  and  Miinnich  and  Golovkin 
and  Mengden — Stolemkin  too  if  you  wish." 

"  Thou  hast  escaped  arrest  thyself,  I  will  make 
thee  arrester  of  many.  Lestocq,  old  friend,  I  am 
mad.  I  will  brave  the  whole  Palace  if  need  be  now. 
Let's  pray  for  the  dawn.    What  a  wakening  !  " 

"  A  moment.  Don't  be  impatient.  The  Princess 
hesitates,  for  she  likes  pleasure  :  but  you  and  I  must 
persuade  her  this  night.  I  have  the  men  ready  :  we 
want  the  Princess  to  move  and  Russia  is  at  her  feet. 
She  knows  me ;  but  a  new  friend — a  big  friend  like 
yourself — will  just  move  her.  You  shall  launch  her 
wishes." 

I  am  thinking  of  Stolemkin  and  Ostermann — 
and  Bulavin  too,  in  the  name  of  all  that's  just  and 
holy.  Peuh  !  I  feel  I  could  remove  mountains. 
As  for  the  Princess,  I  would  serve  her  in  any 
matter." 

*'  Come  with  me  now  to  see  her,"  said  Lestocq. 

Gordon  went  gladly.  He  was  a  different  being 
from  the  man  who  watched  the  Neva  less  than  an 
hour  ago.  The  miraculous  had  happened.  Nothing 
short  of  the  colossal  could  have  freed  the  prisoners 
Gordon  wished  to  liberate,  and  here  was  the  colossal. 
A  revolution.  ...    It  was  history.    It  was  the 


314  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


thing  which  raised  some  and  laid  others  in  the  dust. 
One  was  exalted,  another  abased  ;  one  freed,  another 
imprisoned.    It  turned  people  upside  down. 

They  threaten  to  put  her  in  a  convent/'  said 
Lestocq,  referring  to  the  Princess. 

"  A  prison,  eh  ?  " 

Lestocq  laughed. 

"  She  trembles  at  the  idea.  It  will  move  her. 
They  are  suspicious  but  know  nothing." 

When  the  two  men  reached  the  palace  occupied 
by  the  Princess,  Lestocq  quietly  went  round  first 
to  see  if  the  score  of  Grenadier  Guards  whom  he 
had  heavily  bribed  were  ready.  Then  he  went, 
with  Gordon,  to  the  Princess  Elizabeth. 

She  started  at  first  on  seeing  Gordon,  but  on 
recognizing  him  appeared  very  pleased.  A  new 
ally  seemed  to  give  her  encouragement.  Other 
plotters  were  there,  and  Lestocq  at  once  began  to 
plead  with  her  to  strike  the  blow  at  once — that 
night.    She  seemed  afraid. 

If  we  fail,"  she  murmured. 

"  Then  we  all  perish  on  the  wheel,"  said  Lestocq. 

The  Princess  was  a  fine  woman  physically.  She 
had  a  long  nose,  full  frank  eyes,  a  mouth  of  feeling 
and  an  affectionate  chin.  Her  figure  was  ample  and 
most  attractive. 

She  felt  the  risk  for  those  who  would  serve 
her. 

Lestocq — he  was  her  physician,  but  a  born  in- 
triguer— handed  her  a  card  on  one  side  of  which  was 
a  picture  of  herself  wearing  the  Imperial  crown : 
and  on  the  other  she  was  dressed  as  a  nun  and 
surrounded  with  racks  and  gibbets ! 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


315 


She  looked  nervously  at  the  nun's  dress.  David 
would  have  been  as  glad  a  monk. 

It  will  be  so  unless  we  strike  at  once/'  said 

Lestocq.    "In  a  convent  "    He  shook  his 

head.  She  looked  hesitatingly  round  and  her  eyes 
caught  Gordon,  who  was  watching  her  anxiously, 
for  on  her  action  depended  the  happiness  of  Melania 
Nicholovna. 

He  dropped  on  his  knee — he  was  a  quick  reader 
of  faces. 

We  are  dying  to  serve  Your  Majesty,"  he 
said. 

The  phrase  touched  her.  Your  Majesty."  .  .  . 
She  seemed  braced  by  it.  She  turned  to  a  corner 
of  the  room  where  there  was  an  ikon  lit  by  a  golden 
lamp  and  she  prayed  before  it. 

When  she  rose  Lestocq  kissed  her  hand  and 
looked  radiant.  He  took  her  at  once  into  the  room 
where  the  Guards  were. 

She  asked  if  they  would  be  loyal  to  her.  They 
said  they  would  die  for  her. 

"  I  will  never  forget  your  devotion,"  she  said. 
"  Go  back  to  the  barracks,  get  your  comrades  to 
join  you  and  wait  for  me." 

She  then  put  on  a  mail  cuirass  under  her  dress. 
The  die  was  cast.  Gordon  saw  Promise  beckoning 
to  him. 

It  was  one  o'clock  when,  clad  from  head  to  foot 
in  furs,  the  Princess  was  led  out  by  the  radiant 
Lestocq  to  the  sleigh  that  was  waiting  outside. 

Gordon  was  there  ready  to  drive,  and  they  went 
to  the  Preobrazhensky  barracks,  where  the  Guards, 
eager  and  enthusiastic,  welcomed  her  madly. 


3i6  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


She  spoke  to  them  and  inflamed  them  with  her 
words  and  her  promises. 

Th's  was  the  bloodless  revolution  of  December  5, 
1740.  In  the  raw  cold  morning  Princess  Elizabeth, 
flanked  by  Gordon  and  Lestocq,  led  three  hundred 
Guards  to  the  Winter  Palace. 

The  capital  slept.  Winter  was  a  great  soother. 
One  or  two  sentinels  wondered  at  the  invasion  but 
were  disarmed  before  they  could  offer  resistance 
or  raise  the  alarm.  In  the  palace  Gordon  headed 
the  wild  harbingers  of  the  new  regime,  and  they  at 
once  rushed  to  and  surrounded  the  Regent,  her 
husband  and  the  infant  Tsar,  and  carried  them 
prisoners  to  Elizabeth's  palace. 

The  revolution  was  over. 

Lestocq  kissed  his  sovereign's  hands  and  so  did 
Gordon. 

I  will  never  forget  you,''  she  said  with  tears  in  her 
eyes. 

The  cannon  boomed  from  the  fortress ;  the  capital 
awoke  to  morning  and  the  news  ;  crowds  came  hurry- 
ing to  the  square  in  front  of  the  palace  in  spite  of  the 
biting  wind,  and  hearing  the  news,  called  for  their 
Little  Mother.  The  imposing  Elizabeth  stepped  on 
the  balcony  amid  the  cheers  of.  her  people  and  bowed 
to  them  as  Empress.     Russia  had  a  new  ruler. 

Lestocq  was  wild  with  joy,  but  an  hour  later,  meet- 
ing Gordon,  he  asked — 

**  Well,  have  you  arrested  them  ?  " 

Gordon  looked  ecstatic.  A  new  world  seemed 
to  lie  before  him.    He  ticked  off  his  fingers. 

"  Ostermann,  Miinnich,  Mengden,  Golovkin,  Stol- 
emkin — peuh  !  Stolemkin  and  Bulavin.  Phew ! . . .  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


317 


Lestocq  patted  his  friend  on  the  back.  "  She 
will  not  forget  you/'  he  said.  "  Nothing  will  happen 
in  prison  to-day ;  your  friends  can  be  freed  to- 
morrow." 

God  be  praised  !    I  am  afraid  lest  at  any  moment 
I  wake  and  find  it  but  a  dream  !  " 
Lestocq  smiled. 

"  What  would  not  the  Regent  and  Ostermann 
and  the  others  give  if  only  to-night's  work  were  a 
dream  ?  " 

"  Yes.  What  would  not  many  of  us  give  if  some 
night's  work  were  but  a  dream." 

"  Go  and  lie  down  and  rest.  You  will  have  plenty 
of  time  to  rejoice." 

"  I  must  let  them  know  in  prison — also  poor 
Vasili."    He  understood  what  Vasili  suffered. 

Gordon,  even  after  his  long  vigil  and  exertion,  felt 
no  fatigue — the  mind  treats  the  body  like  a  galley 
slave  at  times. 

It  had  all  happened  so  swiftly  that  neither  the 
great  tragedy  of  the  revolution,  nor  its  historic 
importance,  touched  him.  This  great  outstanding 
fact  of  history  was  less  than  his  own  affair.  He  was  a 
new  man  himself  with  Melancholy  and  Fear  flung 
far  away  and  Hope  and  Security  very  present  com- 
panions. 

He  got  his  authority  to  visit  the  prison  from  the 
new  Empress  (who  told  him  that  his  reward  was  sure), 
and  he  left  her  with  a  heart  too  full  for  calm  review- 
ing. 

Melania  would  be  free — would  be  his.  (What 
was  the  name  of  a  new  Empress  to  that !  .  .  .) 


3i8  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 


The  curtain  of  the  night  had  lifted  and  all  things 
were  becoming  clear  and  distinct.  What  had  been 
dark  became  light,  the  vague  was  clear,  the 
threatening  ceased  and  all  the  world  seemed  bright. 

At  the  prison  there  was  some  doubt  and  in- 
credulity. News  did  not  travel  over  the  capital 
with  even  celerity.  But  all  were  soon  assured  and 
Gordon  was  admitted.  He  found  Sofia  and  Melania 
together.  Sofia  stood  apart,  but  Melania,  opening 
wide  her  eyes,  flew  to  his  arms.  She  was  pale  and  her 
eyes  were  red,  but  hope  dashed  in  her  cheeks  and 
more  than  content  at  the  sight  of  Gordon.  She  said 
nothing  but  "  ah  !  "  and  then  "  Youy  and  flung 
her  arms  round  his  neck.  The  "  You was  ex- 
quisite. 

He  held  her  to  him. 

Very  quietly  he  spoke,  for  we  often  enough  behave 
with  calmness  under  the  stress  of  great  emotion. 
"  You  are  free,  dear  heart,''  he  said.    *'  Free  .  . 
"  Free  ?  " 

"  They  will  do  us  no  harm  ?  " 
"  No.'' 

She  paused  :  the  news  was  so  good. 
And— Sofia  ?  " 

"  She  too.  All  of  us  free  and — ^in  favour.  It  is 
too  good  to  be  true,  and  yet  not  half  good  enough. 
Free  from  all  danger.    Free  for  love.' 

Melania  cried  for  joy.  And  Gordon  felt,  now 
that  he  was  in  the  land  of  his  great  desire,  as  he 
had  never  felt  before,  in  a  beautiful  and  peaceful 

joy. 

Sofia  said,  with  anxious  accents  :  "  Vasili — and 
Juri  ?  " 


THE  STOLEN  BRIDE  319 


"  We  will  find  them/'  said  Gordon  with  a  beauti- 
ful assurance  in  his  tone. 

Sofia  was  biting  her  lip  :  she  was  feeling  deeply. 

"  We  are  all  really  safe  from  trouble  ?  she  asked 
with  a  hint  of  tremulousness  in  her  chin. 

Gordon  told  the  tale  of  the  night's  happening. 

Sofia  said  :  "  Take  me  to  them." 

The  Empress  Elizabeth  offered  Gordon  a  captaincy 
in  the  Guards  (which  he  accepted)  and  gave  him 
also  a  present  of  ten  thousand  roubles.  Stolemkin 
was  banished  to  one  of  his  estates,  while  Vasili  and 
his  wife,  Sofia,  occupied  the  house  in  St.  Petersburg. 

The  marriage  of  Countess  Puroff  to  Louis  Alex- 
ander Gordon  was  an  affair  of  great  brilliancy — 
quite  as  brilliant  as  had  been  the  marriage  of 
Sofia  to  Vasili. 

Vasili  and  Sofia  were  together  at  a  window  as 
Gordon  and  his  wife  drove  away  after  the  ceremony, 
and  there  were  tears  in  Sofia's  eyes. 

"  They  are  happy,"  said  Vasili  to  her,  taking  her 
hand. 

She  nodded.    Then  she  looked  at  her  husband. 
"  And  you  ?  "  she  murmured. 
Vasili  gave  a  little  jerk  of  his  head. 
"  I  think  I  am  the  happiest  man  in  all  the  World," 
he  said. 

Sofia  looked  as  if  she  would  speak.  Her  lips 
trembled  and  she  turned  her  eyes  filling  with  tears  of 
joy  towards  Vasili. 

"  You  too,  my  Sofia  ?  "  he  said,  putting  an  arm 
round  her. 

She  nodded  her  head. 


320  THE  STOLEN  BRIDE 

"  It  is  wonderful,"  she  whispered. 

And  Juri,  her  brother,  seeing  her  with  her  hus- 
band, felt  that  among  the  unexpected  things  in  life 
might  be  some  of  entrancing  beauty. 


The  End 


Butler  &  Tanner,  The  Selwood  Printing  Works,  Frome  and  London 


204o 


